taape
08-29-2005, 09:05 PM
I just filled my last prescription for the pen and my one year authorization from the insurance company ends next month. Has anyone here had to get reauthorized for the second year? Were you required to get a repeat DEXA scan? I have an appointment with the Endocrinologist on Wednesday to go over this. This will be a new doctor as the first one left shortly after, and the other guy was a jerk. I'm just wondering how hard it will be to get them to pay for the second year. Thanks for any replies.
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PatNJ
08-29-2005, 10:51 PM
I'm wondering, taape, if you should call your ins. co. before you see the doctor on Wednesday, to find out what they will require in the way of physician documentation, repeat scan, etc.; that way, you'll be able to tell the guy (and his staff) exactly what they need to do to expedite your next refill. You obviously don't want there to be too long a lag before you get the authorization in place, since you are down to your last pen.
taape
08-29-2005, 11:59 PM
I called the Corporate Office and talked to the individual that arranges for the initial authorizations. He says that he doesn't do reauthorizations and couldn't give me a name of anyone, just the number that the doctor is needing to call. I'll try that number tomorrow. I could pretend to be a doctor, I've done that before with a different insurance company that wouldn't authorize a specialist appointment. When the person in that dept. found out she was so mad. I had an urgent issue and my doctor was dragging his feet. I got it done for myself.
PatNJ
08-30-2005, 03:29 AM
I think it sounds like a good idea, taape. The worst thing that can happen is that you won't find out anything useful, and then you'll just have to stay on top of your doctor's office after Wednesday, to get the ball rolling. (Perhaps "just" should be in quotation marks!)
spinewhine
08-30-2005, 07:39 PM
Maybe I'm naive, but since the course of treatment with Forteo is generally two years, I can't see why re-authorization would be a problem. Your doctor wouldn't have put you on it if you didn't qualify and the insurance has been covering it. I assumed that my one-year rather than two-year prescription just guaranteed the doctor that I'd return in a year so he could check me out, make sure everything was in order before giving me the new prescription. I'd certainly be interested in knowing if anyone had a problem with re-authorization.
taape
08-30-2005, 08:42 PM
My insurance company only authorized the Forteo for one year. A new authorization has to be obtained otherwise the pharmacy can not fill the prescriptions. I hope it's not a problem but you never know with insurance companies. I'll let you know how it goes after my appointment tomorrow.
PatNJ
08-31-2005, 10:09 PM
Taape, come out, come out, wherever you are! We want to hear all about your appt. with the new endo! :bouncing:
taape
08-31-2005, 10:29 PM
HERE I AM!
I met my new Endocrinologist today and she was wonderful. She was in support of being treated with the second year with Forteo. She's send the request in. She went over my last DEXA Scan with me and said that there was improvement in bone density. That other doctor was just negative. She ordered 2 lab tests:
Blood Calcium Level - Fun at the Lab!! I went to the lab, sat down, the lab tech put the rubber band around my arm, started looking for the vein, stuck the needle, I closed my eyes, it sure hurt, thought she was almost done only find out that NO blood was coming out--she didn't know how to do it. I stupidly let her try again in another area on my arm-same thing. That's when I requested someone else and the supervisor came to take blood, my arm was bleeding too much and had to do the inside of my wrist--slow vein. Eventually got it done--big bruise.
Second Test: Urine - N-telopeptide (fasting 2nd void of the day)-Has anyone had this test? I didn't eat or drink anything in the morning on purpose so I could do the tests. But this one required the second void of the day and I had gone tons of times already. What do I do if I can't hold it that long???I will have to quickly get to the lab and in there otherwise it isn't possible.
Good appointment - then she tells me she's leaving for maternity leave.!! She'll be back hopefully.
I met my new Endocrinologist today and she was wonderful. She was in support of being treated with the second year with Forteo. She's send the request in. She went over my last DEXA Scan with me and said that there was improvement in bone density. That other doctor was just negative. She ordered 2 lab tests:
Blood Calcium Level - Fun at the Lab!! I went to the lab, sat down, the lab tech put the rubber band around my arm, started looking for the vein, stuck the needle, I closed my eyes, it sure hurt, thought she was almost done only find out that NO blood was coming out--she didn't know how to do it. I stupidly let her try again in another area on my arm-same thing. That's when I requested someone else and the supervisor came to take blood, my arm was bleeding too much and had to do the inside of my wrist--slow vein. Eventually got it done--big bruise.
Second Test: Urine - N-telopeptide (fasting 2nd void of the day)-Has anyone had this test? I didn't eat or drink anything in the morning on purpose so I could do the tests. But this one required the second void of the day and I had gone tons of times already. What do I do if I can't hold it that long???I will have to quickly get to the lab and in there otherwise it isn't possible.
Good appointment - then she tells me she's leaving for maternity leave.!! She'll be back hopefully.
CrohnieToo
08-31-2005, 10:34 PM
RATS!!! Don't you just HATE it when you find a good doctor and then, poof, for whatever reason they are gone?? And it always seems to be the good ones.
spinewhine
09-01-2005, 12:41 AM
I've had that second void of the day urine test. The lab will give you a labeled cup and you can bring it from home. That way, you don't have to rush to the lab and then hold it til you get to the bathroom. At least my lab does it this way.
taape
09-01-2005, 01:25 AM
Spinewhine,
Thnak you so much for the advice. I'll ask the lab.
Thnak you so much for the advice. I'll ask the lab.
taape
09-01-2005, 01:35 AM
One more question...if I'm up and down all night using the bathroom which I am lots of nights. Would I just collect it after I decide to get up for the day and it's the second time to the bathroom? Sometimes the days and nights all run into each other because I don't sleep.
newbones
09-01-2005, 11:18 AM
taape,
Glad that your appointment went well. Hope you can keep the new doctor. Sorry about your botched blood draw. I hate that more than anything. A nurse friend once told me not to let them stick you more than once; if they can't get it the first time, they need to get someone who can. I've tried to remember that.
When I started on Forteo, my doctor requested that I check with my insurance company to see if they required authorization. They didn't, just a prescription from the doctor to their Specialty Care Pharmacy. Insurance companies all seem to do things differently. Most doctors, however, will only prescribe long-term medications for one year. Then they want you to come back for a checkup to make sure things are going okay, I guess, before they prescribe any more. Anxious to hear about your test results.
Glad that your appointment went well. Hope you can keep the new doctor. Sorry about your botched blood draw. I hate that more than anything. A nurse friend once told me not to let them stick you more than once; if they can't get it the first time, they need to get someone who can. I've tried to remember that.
When I started on Forteo, my doctor requested that I check with my insurance company to see if they required authorization. They didn't, just a prescription from the doctor to their Specialty Care Pharmacy. Insurance companies all seem to do things differently. Most doctors, however, will only prescribe long-term medications for one year. Then they want you to come back for a checkup to make sure things are going okay, I guess, before they prescribe any more. Anxious to hear about your test results.
PatNJ
09-01-2005, 01:03 PM
Taape, glad your visit went well -- great news about the bone density improvement! It just figures that the new endo will be taking time off. Maybe she'll be a six weeks type, instead of a three months one!
Hope the Forteo re-auth will go smoothly (and quickly) with your ins. co.
Sorry about the gruesome blood-letting. Will look forward to hearing about your results.
I've never heard of the second void test. Maybe you could call up your doctor's nurse and ask about the timing. I'm like you with the crazy sleep-wake cycles. Sometimes I don't go to bed until 4:00 a.m. and am up again at 6:30 to get my son off to school. I wouldn't even know when my first void of the day is, never mind the second! I guess if you have a stretch of at least six hours without going, then the first time would be the first, and the second would be the second, no matter what time of the day it is???
Hope the Forteo re-auth will go smoothly (and quickly) with your ins. co.
Sorry about the gruesome blood-letting. Will look forward to hearing about your results.
I've never heard of the second void test. Maybe you could call up your doctor's nurse and ask about the timing. I'm like you with the crazy sleep-wake cycles. Sometimes I don't go to bed until 4:00 a.m. and am up again at 6:30 to get my son off to school. I wouldn't even know when my first void of the day is, never mind the second! I guess if you have a stretch of at least six hours without going, then the first time would be the first, and the second would be the second, no matter what time of the day it is???
spinewhine
09-01-2005, 08:53 PM
One more question...if I'm up and down all night using the bathroom which I am lots of nights. Would I just collect it after I decide to get up for the day and it's the second time to the bathroom? Sometimes the days and nights all run into each other because I don't sleep.
I also sometimes make a few nighttime trips to the bathroom. I just assume that anything around 6:00 a.m.ish would be the first morning urine. The one after that would be the one I'd use. If I didn't wake til 7, I'd void and take the next one. I don't think it has to be that precise. Also, ask if you should take your calcium supplement that morning. There was one test I took where I was told not to take it. I think on another occasion I was told to go ahead and take it. The supplement can certainly wait until after the second morning urine, at any rate.
One more thing about supplements, while I'm at it. My gyno at my last checkup last month suggested using the Caltrate chewables (which the endo also recommended). Gyno said to cut them in half and take them four times during the day rather than a full tablet twice a day. The body can't absorb more than about 200 milligrams at a time from supplements, according to gyno, so it's wasted to take the whole pill and you don't get the benefit of the calcium. I protested that I wouldn't remember to take it over the course of the day, being distracted by work and all, but he said it's still better taking half a pill, even if I sometimes forget a dose.
I also sometimes make a few nighttime trips to the bathroom. I just assume that anything around 6:00 a.m.ish would be the first morning urine. The one after that would be the one I'd use. If I didn't wake til 7, I'd void and take the next one. I don't think it has to be that precise. Also, ask if you should take your calcium supplement that morning. There was one test I took where I was told not to take it. I think on another occasion I was told to go ahead and take it. The supplement can certainly wait until after the second morning urine, at any rate.
One more thing about supplements, while I'm at it. My gyno at my last checkup last month suggested using the Caltrate chewables (which the endo also recommended). Gyno said to cut them in half and take them four times during the day rather than a full tablet twice a day. The body can't absorb more than about 200 milligrams at a time from supplements, according to gyno, so it's wasted to take the whole pill and you don't get the benefit of the calcium. I protested that I wouldn't remember to take it over the course of the day, being distracted by work and all, but he said it's still better taking half a pill, even if I sometimes forget a dose.