Fda Requires F2F + Monthly Paper Rx!?

[Msm8358]

My pain management dr also sees me quarterly. I just call a week before month's end to pick up scripts. He's definitely not a pill mill doc. He's the head of oncology at the hospital where I spend way too much time and took my case as a favor to another doc.

At the beginning I saw him every month but as long as I'm not abusing his trust, he said he only needs to check in quarterly. I think it just depends on the dr.

 

[2earls]

I already have been going quarterly or more as I am being treated for various problems as well as pain.

It's just going to be after the scheduling change when I go next. I really went through hell before I found this dr. so I hope nothing changes. The pain clinics in my area are the worst!

 

[Fargo]

And I haven't had to pee in a little cup in just about a year and a half of going to my PM Dr.

 

[2earls]

You've got a good thing going!

 

[Fargo]

I did have to take a urine test my first visit, which I failed miserably, but only had a small amount of pot in my system so she said that " since it was such a small amount, that I would be clean on my next visit, right?" And I was and have not had to take another one since.

 

[2earls]

Amazingly my doc has never tested me! I came to her after spending $800 at a "pain" clinic. I guess I misinterpreted their purpose which was to keep me in pain not alleviate it.

She says "what works?" so I show her the bottle I had from oral surgery and Boom!

There aren't many like her and I lost her due to signing up for Obama care so now I'm trying to get out of it and go back.

 

[Fargo]

Ouch!! Fucking Obamacare and everything Obama!

 

[cadberry]

very interesting info., and yea, i'd be dumping obamacare too to keep a great doc. like that. Just can't live in pain....   I don't know about o.care much but I've only heard bad things and issues about it,  worrisome for sure. (these are typos but I can't get them deleted??ow.  ery)

 

[2earls]

Well here is something that might help someone else. When I signed up it said I was eligible for Medicaid.

Thought it was a mistake, went to a facilitator, they said it's right.

I knew my dr. didn't take Medicaid but I thought I'll just self pay but tell them I signed up and can now get MRI or whatever they want.

When I showed them the card, they looked at me like I was holding a pile of shit!

They took me in a back room and said "we can't see you today. If we let you self pay we can be fined $10,000. You can't come back here unless you cancel.

They referred me to a dr. who says OMG those are a controlled substance, I can't give you those because some other idiot did.

And here I am.

 

[cadberry]

OMG, yea that's messed up. But I did know something about not being able to self pay....etc..and some of that. It's one way or the other, can't mix. But pointing that out might save someone else who doesn't know. Hope it's not to late to somehow work that out to at least to hang on to pain doc. If that's what is the better for you.  Maybe, you could get the MRI off O.care, then cancel, and then go back to your pain doc. for your meds, with MRI in hand! Or something like that, idk, the whole system and all the situations we are in, can't get medical care, can't get meds, I don't know what we're suppossed to do.....and the expense... good luck figuring out somehow to work the system. If you want to and can't get out of O.care, do something (minor) to get yourself disqualified.

 

[2earls]

Well it really has been such a mess! I was referred to a new "pain" clinic by the dr. that thinks pain patients are the spawn of the devil so I could get that MRI.

They never contacted me so I called and left a message, still no reply. So I told the referring dr and they told me just keep calling. That was 3 months ago!

So I said screw this, all I have to do is cancel Medicaid and then I can go back to my old dr.

After 30 phone calls to automated machines I found out that you have write a letter and have APPROVAL to cancel. I am waiting for a case # blah blah blah.

So easy to get in, so hard to get out.

You would think it should be the other way around!

 

[cadberry]

yea, really, you'd think they'd be glad to get rid of people and drop 'em. Sorry it's such a hard time, and all the while dealing with the pain too. they don't give a sh.t. I've been through a lot of run around etc., too, probably lots of us have.    

 

[babealcakes]

It might depend on your doctor or your state. I had multiple doctors do this for me with no problem (one a PM doc, one a GP, at different times), but when I moved across country all the PM docs here see you every month and bill out at 350 a pop for the pleasure. It's such a racket that they pass you off to an NP 3/4 of the time at the same cost and he/she can't even adjust your controlled meds! So I wouldn't count on this being a possibility for some. 

I am looking to move back home to CA- wondering what it'd be like there... imagine that most drs would be fine doing the 3 paper script thing once you built up trust. The Intractable Pain Treatment Act hasn't done much for me... except streamline the process of someone else taking my money...

 

[A.C.]

Well here is something that might help someone else. When I signed up it said I was eligible for Medicaid.

Thought it was a mistake, went to a facilitator, they said it's right.

I knew my dr. didn't take Medicaid but I thought I'll just self pay but tell them I signed up and can now get MRI or whatever they want.

When I showed them the card, they looked at me like I was holding a pile of shit!

They took me in a back room and said "we can't see you today. If we let you self pay we can be fined $10,000. You can't come back here unless you cancel.

They referred me to a dr. who says OMG those are a controlled substance, I can't give you those because some other idiot did.

And here I am.

WOW THAT SUCKS.... I hate Obamacare and people are always like "well you get this and that, we don't get shit" and while they are technically right.. they don't "GET" it.. I'd MUCH rather be healthy, working and only worrying about dentist and reg dr visits, than having to go through all I have and will have in the future.. People... it's always ME, ME, ME!!! I knew what was coming and I hadda get off the MS, it made me someone I didn't like.. no soul.. I got around better.. I hope they've cleared this up as I see this is a lil old.. 

I'm REALLY lucky  as it's '15 year of change and my Doc see's me as often as HE wants(I'm worried he's gonna quit on me before I'm ready) he already cut to 2 days a week.. and he's not shy w/ me about why.. Though, and I'm on the dreaded 'Done, and MSi r(small amount compared to what I WAS on just 18mo's ago or so) but he mails mine.. He could post date and has, but he isn't worried about ME, I made 100% sure that he and my PCP doc were in touch before my 1st visit.. my PCP has known me 20yrs.. used to write ALL my meds.. now.. He still will if I NEED it, but his "higher" ups pushed him to UA me.. he didn't even know cuz I had told him years before I toke up everyday, not much but enough I sleep. I guess he saw the amounts, haha, I then explained I only got the best, otherwise it was a waste of $ and now my state is close, he's on board w/ it.. but he specifically told my Pain doc I popped + 4x's and he never cut me off.. IDK if it woulda mattered cuz my Pain doc only will see patients willing to go down wether it be 1 tab/mo or 10.. he just wants to help.. He knows I'm in pain and rarely get out and I've taught both as much as they have me.. Hey.. Music heals too! My ability to get out for live music at all costs fascinates them.. even turned one on to Willie Watson and Langhorne Slim, the other now loves Ben Harper, first because he liked the band name "The innocent criminals" haha /default_smile.png I guess being honest and listening to my docs has helped.. insurance company not so much.. 

2earls I am so sorry.. 

 

[2earls]

Thanks @A.C. My husband is just coming up to his 3 month evaluation at a new job. We are anxiously awaiting what insurance will be offered. The company only pays 50 % of the premium, hope that it's something we can afford. If not, I'll have to start the whole Obama care mess again. At least I know now to put enough income not to be put on Medicaid!

My doc has been very patient, putting off tests and surgery til I get some kind of insurance. I'm sure that patience will run out at some point.

 

[A.C.]

Thanks @A.C. My husband is just coming up to his 3 month evaluation at a new job. We are anxiously awaiting what insurance will be offered. The company only pays 50 % of the premium, hope that it's something we can afford. If not, I'll have to start the whole Obama care mess again. At least I know now to put enough income not to be put on Medicaid!

My doc has been very patient, putting off tests and surgery til I get some kind of insurance. I'm sure that patience will run out at some point.

Ofcourse.. I've been there.. I just.. know soo many affected cuz they thought Obamacare was the next "cure all" when all it's done is hurt us who were fine before.. I know soon as it hit my insurance decided to watch what I did like crazy.. worse yet, they never kept all my info in one place.. wrote my pharmacy telling em I was Dr shoppin when I've only seen a few specialists and surgeons in the past 12yrs or so, otherwise.. all my scripts came from the same 3 dr's.. they just don't care, didn't look to see last time they called my 2nd bean a "duplicate" and had them refuse to fill it I seized and had an accident.. My doc's are great I couldn't ask for better, w/ the exception of my shrink.. he doesn't even speak english as a 1st language.. before the place paired me w/ him I saw a diff one every year, residents/pre-shrinks if you will haha, but they loved me cuz I was honest and they learned from me..

I really hope things work out sooner rather than later.. if ya ever even just need to vent.. well that's what we're here for, right? Well I am, so my inbox is always open even if it's just to get something off your chest.. things said/typed in private.. stay that way  /default_smile.png I'm on medicaid, but also permanently disabled.. so I guess it's different.. I have no limits anymore on visits or scripts.. tho now my insurance wants to act like they've been there the whole time when they've not even tried to help or follow through w/ help in almost 2 decades..sending positive vibes and thoughts that things work out and your husband get's that insurance!

 

[2earls]

Thanks A.C., you're alright. Same goes for me, anytime.

 

[SisterMissy]

I've been going to a pain clinic where I've been seen by the dr...once in 4 years.  The rest of the time it was the nasty PA (who recently "retired" suddenly, gee, she's missed) and the NP, who is nice but just hands you the same scripts month after month.  Oh, and you have to pee EVERY time.  They don't watch you or anything, so plenty of people game the urine tests, but they still find excuses to toss people.  But what can I do?  They're the only one around for about 100 miles.  At least the doc himself just pushes cortisone injections & keeps writing scripts. But I swear the worry just eats me up....