[Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else HavingProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Bill Lewis wlewis19 at cox.net
Mon Mar 31 16:40:21 UTC 2014 

While I was reading in the newspaper about problems with Medicare providers 
having trouble getting approved by Medicare, as a authorized provider, I 
made sure I checked with my doctor's office to be sure my doctors planned to 
continue keeping me as a patient, and I checked with the pharmacy that 
provided my glucose strips to be sure they could continue to provide strips 
for me.  They all said, "so far so good," so to speak.

However, I'm also reading over the weekend that Medicare was scheduled to 
cut reimbursements to doctors by 24% and Medicare medical supplies by a 
similar percent.  But then, over the weekend, Obama extended the deadlines 
for at least three more months.

In sum, the Obama medical plan is all screwed up.

So doctors and providers react to all this mass confusion by blaming the 
victims, as usual, so they give us grief, because their appeals to 
government is falling on deaf ears, since government spokesmen are 
contradicting hemselves with their public explanations.  About all we can do 
is keep trying and ask, ahead of time, what you should do, if there are 
snags.  You may or may not get reliable information, but that is probably 
because they don't know either.  One final thought, buy a month's supply of 
strips, or whatever, with cash, so you will have backup, while the 
communication problems fly back and forth.  --  Bill Lewis





-----Original Message----- 
From: eileen scrivani
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 2:22 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else 
HavingProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Yes, I know with a service call business like what these are of course they
always have supervisors.  This morning with Ariva I was hung up on by one of
the reps.  I was not arguing with her, but I was not giving up my case to
speak to someone and then there was no one there.


All I want to know is if they have received the form from my doc to fill the
order for 8 strips a day and they just will not confirm what they have
received and they will not forward my call to the department that handles
it.  And, I don't think I can use Walgreens.  I called WG for something else
under Medicare Part B and was told they are not allowed to cover under Part
B.


Eileen


Eileen


-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael Capelle
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 3:02 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else
HavingProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

There are always supervisors on duty, i would demanded to have the number fr
cooperate.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Freeman
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:07 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else
HavingProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Hey! I'd have asked if the company wanted you to tell Medicare that. (grin)
In fact, I do understand and empathize. In fact, I prefer to buy my strips
direct rather than mess with insurance carriers. But, as I say, talk to your
congresspersons.

I'm toying with the idea of seeing if Dr. Maurer might be inclined to invite
a high muckety at Medicare to our convention and then having a bit of a
tete-a-tete with him/her.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
eileen scrivani
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 11:03 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having
ProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Mike,

I don't think you realize how truly bad these companies are.  The customer
services reps are less than helpful and I suspect are only there to process
orders as quickly as people phone in.  They don't want to hear a thing about
problems and it is like pulling teeth when someone asks for a supervisor or
someone in charge.  This morning with Ariva I was told there was no
supervisor on duty!

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Freeman
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:51 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having
ProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Hey! Don't leave messages. Even if it takes hours, stay on the phone. And
call them every day at a specific set time. I'd bet after a week of calls at
the specific time, always asking for a supervisor, you'll get some action.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
eileen scrivani
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:34 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems
OrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

I had left messages asking A1 Diabetes to have a supervisor return my call
regarding the problem having my test strip prescription refilled and not
once did they return a call.  I also tried selecting the option for
complaints on their 1-800 number and got disconnected.  This is horrible.

Try not to stress ... I know its difficult but for what its worth I feel
your pain & upset over this.

Eileen


-----Original Message-----
From: Tara M. Carty
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:21 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems
OrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

I have ten test strips left. I tested this morning and will test before I go
to bed. When I tried to complain to A-1, that is when they put me on hold
for twenty minutes and then asked me to leave a voice mail! As calmly as I
could, I explained the situation, but never got a call back. My doctor has
sent them a cover letter explaining the seriousness of the situation too.
I've been trying to order supplies for two weeks! My sugar is probably going
up because of the stress and I dread that horrible message of "Insufficient
blood!"
----- Original Message -----
From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering
TestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?


> Tara,
>
> Yes, you are having the exact same problems I had with A1 Diabetes.
> It is amazing to me that we have no re-course for submitting
> complaints against these companies with Medicare.  Medicare told me I
> could only complain if they did not take my insurance.
>
> And now with the same problem seemingly to be happening with Ariva
> Medical. With Ariva, when I asked the customer service rep to speak to
> a supervisor I was told I was asking for something no one else has
> asked for.  Making me feel like a reasonable request was some how out
> of the ordinary and above and beyond what my expectations of a well
> run company should be.
>
> So very frustrating especially when my strip supply is now getting
> very low and this all started last week and still not resolved!
>
> I have never in all the years with diabetes had this level of
> difficulty getting a legimate perscription filled.
>
> Eileen
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tara M. Carty
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:59 PM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering
> TestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
> I am having the exact problem with the paperwork. I also recently
> moved and every time I call A-1, they still have my old address. I
> have been on the phone with my doctor's office while they faxed the
> form and got confirmation and A-1 still has not received it. I also
> test six times a day and am insulin dependent. The phone system is
> horrible for A-1 as well. They put you on hold for twenty minutes,
> then ask you to leave a voice mail but never call you back. I spent
> almost four hours on the phone on Monday trying to figure out the
> paperwork and order my supplies.
> I am so frustrated and am afraid if I go to another company, I'll find
> the same thing.
>
>
> Tara
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
> To: "NFB Diabetes Talk" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 9:58 AM
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering Testing
> Supplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I am curious if any one else who uses Medicare Part B for testing
> supplies, insulin dependent and testing more than 3 times per day is
> having a difficult time having their orders filled through Medicare
> providers?
>
> I was using A1 Diabetes at first and was testing 6 times per day.
> Each time my doc faxed back their form, they kept telling me they
> never got it.
> Finally had to physically make a trip to my doctors office, pick up
> the form and snail mail it into A1 Diabetes.  Now am increasing the
> number of times per day I test to 8 and need to have the script
> updated.  Again, they are claiming that they are not getting the fax
> back from my doctor who is very clearly sending it back in.
>
> So I had enough with A1 Diabetes and am now trying to get set up with
> Ariva medical, another Medicare approved provider.  Again, my doctor
> is getting their faxes, sending them back and then when I call to
> check on the order am told by Ariva that they never got the fax back
> from the doctors office!!
>
> I’m trying not to get upset over this, but it takes about 10 days for
> supplies to get sent through mail, and its taking days for this
> paperwork nightmare to get straightened out.  I called the Medicare
> 1-800 number and they cannot take complaints against these companies
> except in the case where insurance is not being accepted.  Is this an
> underhanded way of perhaps rejecting the insurance?
> My suspicion is that for diabetics testing above the Medicare allotted
> amount of 3 times per day for an insulin dependent diabetic, they may
> not for some reason want to take these orders.  Any ideas on this?
> Are others having this much trouble with these places?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Eileen
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
>
>
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