[Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems OrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Mon Mar 31 17:03:11 UTC 2014

Please, friends, remember that the people we talk to regarding supply 
problems are making minimum wage, or thereabouts, and have no power to 
change the situation except for following the company's boss's instructions. 
So make nice.  Smooz the person.  Put a smile in your voice and compliment 
them on their hair-do, etc.  If they have been enduring their work load for 
hours already that day, and they don't respond to your sweet, patient, and 
friendly approach, just remember that you, at least, can still be civil and 
polite.  I refuse to let unhappy and over-stressed customer reps ruin my 
day--and I'll punch you in the eye, if you say otherwise!  (grin)  Bill 
Lewis

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tara M. Carty
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:21 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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