(polls now closed - for a while you can view them at the bottom of the right hand side of this page)A I mentioned in the previous post, It's a fiasco every time I call the doctor for a prescription for new meter strips.
First the phone call, which I hate every time. I deal with either the receptionist or the nurse, and I can hear both of them rolling their eyes as I once again ask for a script that allows for 8 - 12 tests a day.
Then I go in to pick up the script, which will without doubt allow for only 3 - 4 tests a day. I complain, ask for it to be re-written, and sometimes it will be, sometimes it wont. Even if I get a replacement script it will still only allow for up to 6 tests a day. I can live with 6 if I have to, but it leaves me guessing my BGs too often, and I feel SO much better (and more in control, and more free to live my life, and more free to do *anything*, etc) if I can test when I need to.
How can it be wrong to test more? Isn't it a good thing? Aren't I a good little patient for having a1cs under 7, testing at good times, keeping an eye on things and attempting to take over the roll of my pancreas?
The good news is that when I see my Endo she will write me out another script, which keeps me stocked up for when the doc wont give me enough. The bad news is that she only wants to see me once a year now because as we both know I'm controlling my own Diabetes and know what I'm doing, so one extra script a year doesn't fill up those gaps any more :(
Well this is yet another fiasco that may be coming to an end. I called the doctor to get strips a few days ago. I went in yesterday to pick up the script which yet again allowed for 3 - 4 tests a day. I left it there with the receptionist and requested an appointment. I would show the Dr the Pharmac Schedule which says a diabetic on insulin can have as many tests as they need. I would print bits out, explain my case, heck I was even willing to cry brittle diabetes if I needed too (which is bull crap... but a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do).
FINALLY the good news: The receptionist called me this morning, cancelled my appointment and said that the Dr wrote me a new script for 800 strips following a letter he got from my Endo. I don't know what she said, but I love her now :D
SO - omg I've been a little verbal on this one haven't I? So.... I was wondering how many others have trouble with this. Are you free to test as you need to? Is it a bother, or are you happily testing less? Is your doctor writing out scripts willy nilly allowing you to test as you please? Tick some boxes, and tell me all about it. Especially you NZ'ers - I wonder how common this issue is in NZ.
BTW - it seems blogger's polls don't allow for any more than a word or three per option. If you can't read what's at the end of the line, just hover over it and all will be revealed. Thanks for your votes!
6 comments:
As an American, the main problem is my health insurance - they won't pay for more than 5 strips/day. So I have to pay for the rest myself. I've only tried to get prescriptions from endos, so I haven't had problems getting the right scrip, but I probably would have, since the other doctors thought I should only be testing "every other day" (!) or 3 times a day.
I have a scrip for 8x per day, which my endo thinks is a lot. I've sometimes said that I'd like more, but I haven't pushed it and I think that 8 really is enough right now. I originally had a scrip for 4x per day from the children's endo- I don't know WHAT she was thinking.
Living in Denmark, I don't have the same issues with test strips. Here, there is no upper limit to the number and/or brand of strips you can get when you are a T1 diabetic. And to top it all off: For T1's all the test materials (strips, pokers, lancets) are free of charge. The expenses for these are covered by the municipality in which you live, and except for one municipality there is only an upper limit to the number of test strips payed for if you are T2 diabetic. This one municipality has set a limit to save money on their budget, and they have been allowed to do so. If T1 diabetics living in this municipality need more strips than what is automatically allowed (I think that was 180 strips/month, corresponding to 5-6 a day), they should just get their doctor to provide documentation for their higher needs. That said, I hear of many doctors and health care providers, who think that more than 4 tests a day is excessive. I think it depends on the context of the tests: If I eat 6 small meals/snacks a day, ride my bike back and forth to work, and go for soccer practice in the evening, that would be at least 10 test for me to fell on top of things. If only being allowed to test 4 or 6 times I would be guessing a lot more - with potentially dangerous consequences.
Hey, it happens. I test from 6 to 11 times per day. The last script I had was for 7 strips per day & I kept running out. So I asked when I went to the doctor for the script to be listed as 10 times per day. He wrote it, no questions asked. The good part is that he doesn't care to write the script. The bad part is when my pharmacy looks at me like I have lost my mind and then they say, "How many times per day do you test??". And then the insurance company gives me a hard time and makes me send a letter of explinations.
Oh well. Don't feel alone. It happens to all of us.
My doc and I finally found a way to word the prescription - "use as directed". And that seems to get me what I need.
Having gone through a period several years ago with no insurance, I feel like I've just committed highway robbery when I leave the phramacy with a big supply.
I'm fortunate. My endo writes me a scrip for 7 tests a day and I can get a 3-month supply by mail order for a single $10 copay.
Like Kathy I feel a little like I've robbed someone when the big box full of test strips arrives. Some days I only test 4-5 times, but then there are days when I need 10-12 tests.
What I don't understand is why the insurance companies won't work on a standard low-cost strip. The meter companies would whine for a while. But these have been around for years how can they still charge close to $1 per strip. Now that is robbery.
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