Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Dear DesertBloom,
Yes...that Department of Justice site makes me so thankful for my doctor!! At some point, I have the feeling we will have to "organize". Isn't that a great thought? The people who are completely worn out from their physical pain problems need to find a way to make a full-fledged national organization to protect their supposed "rights" to have access to appropriate pain medication and treatment. These same people DO NOT HAVE THE ENERGY to even remotely mount such a task!
When I travelled to Estonia back in 1990, I had the need to see a physician. My college Concert Choir toured there, and I was in desperate need of pain medication for some severe headaches. ONLY BECAUSE I WAS WITH A "WELL-CONNECTED" GROUP OF PEOPLE, I was able to speak with a doctor. Fortunately, we had an interpreter. I think the word "morphine" has an international meaning. Truly, I didn't need anything that potent, but that was what they had available in pill form. Furthermore, I received an injection of morphine in my...hotel room. I bet that's not where you thought I received it.
Anyway...the interpreter was female, her 10-year-old daughter was female (as daughters tend to be), and the doctor was female. I'm serious when I tell you that I had to "drop my drawers" in front of them all--for the shot. I kept waiting for them to turn around or something, but they just awkwardly waited (actually, I was the awkward one) until I dropped what little I could in order to receive the injection. Fortunately, I didn't have to disrobe in order to receive the pills. Considering how I felt, though, I probably would have done nearly anything they requested. I was given approximately 30 morphine pills (at least that's what I was told they were). Honestly, I really enjoyed the next few days of concerts!
***I guess I should technically have a point. I'm not sure what the rules are over there, but I was NOT given the 3rd-degree by the physician who issued the medication. In fact, it didn't seem to bother her at all. I had to wait a little while for her to return with the medication--both the shot and the pills (in a bottle with a label I couldn't read at all). Plus, this did not cost me anything even though I offered to pay! TO SAY THE LEAST, I WAS EXTREMELY THANKFUL!
Take care...
Sincerely,
Jon (Conductor)
P.S. Dear Laenini: Thank you for this important information. I will do some more research into this "big brother" type of industry. Thanks for providing this valuable information. Most of us probably don't have much of an understanding concerning the inner workings of this industry.
Last edited by conductor; 05-27-2007 at 08:01 PM.
Reason: Add P.S.
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Hi Everyone!
This pain doctor and Cigna have NOT heard the last from me. I plan to report the pain doctor's office for violating my privacy by announcing in front of a full lobby. I have NEVER been that embarrassed before, I started crying and the other patients were giving me the HAIRY EYEBALL, like I was a criminal.
I am having surgery on Friday for bowel re-section, I may go to ER so they can control my pain and admit me so the surgeon can move up my procedure. I haven't eaten in days, so cleanse part should be easy.
Jon, I agree totally with you. I HATE having big brother looking at every move we make. I can understand weeding out the drug seekers, but this is ridiculous. If Cigna took the time to look at the dates of when my Rx's were filled they would have seen that I WASN"T getting meds from two doctors at the same time.
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Anyone who is having a problem with their insurance company interfering inappropriately with their patient/doctor/pharmacist relationship might try seeking help from the attorney general's office in their state. Really, the insurance company is basically trying to find a way to blame the patient so that they don't have to fulfil their contract and pay your medication bills anymore. To me that sounds like consumer fraud and I would try fighting it from that angle.
__________________
"It matters not how straight the gait
How charged with punishment the scroll.
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
My pharmacist red flagged my scripts a while back.
My neurologist was out of town and when that happens my GP handles my MS attacks.So my GP wrote out 2 scripts one was for vicodin and the other tylenol 3's for pain.The 2 was wrote just in case the tyelenol 3's didn't take off the edge.Well the flair didn't end and I was admitted to the hospital under another DRs.care for 5 days. I was prescribed 100mgs of fentynal on discharged ,had it filled,it was to strong ,so my neuro called in 50 mgs fentynal had it filled.Still couldn't adjust to it,so neuro calls in oxycotin.
What saved my butt was after the pharmacist called me and inquired about all the pain med scripts.he gave me time to explain that the first 2 were by GP,one was filled by hospital on call DR and the other 2 by my neuro.
I did however had the pharmacist discard the unused fentynal patches,because I didn't want them in my house with the teenagers.
As ya all read this it would make someone think that I was DR shopping,it was just how the cards fell.
This same pharmacist questioned 2 other scripts,valium and ativan which was wrote by 2 different neuro's.But the valuim was for during the day and the ativan was for night.Now all my scripts go through my neuro.
I opted out of PM and signed a release to get out of there contract,as they wanted to control every aspect of all my meds including the ones for MS.
My pharmacist contacted my insurance carrier to let them know that I had returned the fentynal as Ohio is very strict and closely monitors all pain meds.
I never give any of this a thought until my pharmacist brought it to my attention.
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
wow....Ive heard that even if you offer to turn in unused meds to a doc or pharmacist...they cannot take them as they were RXed to YOU...and its against the law...
Anyone have any other input?
xoxoxoxoxox,
IZZY'SMOM...
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Not in the state of Ohio,they'd rather have the pharmacist discard of these narcotics than have them in the wrong hands.
I have returned several unused meds back to the pharmacist for him to discard,they even discard my syringes when my sharp container is full.
Better the pharmacy to discard properly than to put them in the trash or flush.
When these meds are returned,if for allergic reaction,lack of tolorance,this is entered into the state wide computer and it doesn't look like a person is over medicated or abusing narcotics.
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
AI understand that....Ive never heard of that here...Of course id rahter have them in the hands of someone who could account for them, but I was told by a pharmacist here in my state, that they CANNOT take NOR can a doctor take back meds that have been prescribed to someone...s far as meds being ented back into the computer, it desnt happen here...
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Hi Everyone,
I'm from the back board but this topic really has my interest as well. I'll tell you a couple of my stories regarding pain meds and pharmacies.
I use a large , national retail pharmacy. I have been on the same dose of pain meds since my fusion surgery in March 2006. There has never been any problem or question about the doses or the scripts themselves. I never have refilled early or asked for more, any of the "flags" that the doctors and pharmacies look for.
Anyway, along comes a brand new pharmacist, just hired. I drop off my scripts as usual. I get them two days or so before I need them so they have time to get the meds in that they don't have in stock.
She calls my doctor's office and tells them that I am taking one too many times a day ( it is supposed to be a long acting 12 hour dosing med, but does not last that long for me, so I get it every 8 hours), and the Lyrica she has a problem with because I am at the maximum daily dosage, and the baclofen, she also has a problem with because ........???? We have no idea. The physician discusses the dosage timing with her, explaining that he has been prescribing the same dosage frequency for about 9 months after trying the 12 hour dosing and it not working as long for me, then she calls back and tells him that she has a problem with the high dosage of Lyrica and there should be something else he should put me on since I am taking such a high dosage, and then finally , she calls him a third time about the baclofen, and whatever her issue was with that.............sigh. Doctor's office calls me and asks me what her problem is. I call the pharmacy, get her on the phone and tell her that I have been filling the same prescriptions, from the same doctor, at the same time each month since 03/06 and that I want to know what her issue with it is........she can see on the computer that I am not getting meds from any other doctor, and that there are no early refills, etc.......she tells me on the phone that she will not fill the scripts! She is not "comfortable" filling them at the doses they are prescribed and do I know that the pain med is "highly addictive"? Of course I do you fool, but you can see that I am well regulated, don't take more than I am supposed to, am not "high" on the pain meds, am not getting scripts from anywhere else.......what is the problem?
Long story made shorter, I have to make sure she is not on duty when I drop off my scripts or they don't get filled. She held my last prescription for the breakthrough med for almost 3 weeks claiming that they didn't get it in
So, my husband had to take that one to the pharmacy for me, and drive to another town 25 miles from here to get it filled because the other pharmacy that takes our insurance did not have the capsules in stock and the script was written for that........
Luckily for me, my PM knows me well, knows that I do not abuse the meds, in fact, I resisted them for a long time, and he knows about the problems we have had with the pharmacy so he is not surprised when I tell him that we had to take them or one of them to another pharmacy to get it filled........it is such a pain too since the reason that I used that pharmacy is that it has a drive through which is much easier for me than trying to walk that far into the store/pharmacy, which is very difficult for me.
So, that's my story of pharmacies and headaches...........
Best of luck to you all.
Oh, and as far as getting multiple scripts from different doctor's goes for the original poster, most PM doctors either have you sign a contract that clearly states that any pain meds must come from them and them alone or if there is a clause that says if you go to another doctor/ER and recieve a script for meds, you must notify the PM's office by the next working day.......I have not had to sign a PM contract but I know that others have in my PM's office and it clearly states what the rules are for them to treat you.
Sandi
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
This is a HIPPA violation and you can file it online - cannot remember URL but just goggle HIPPA
the DEA allows you in any state to take your left over medication to the prescribing doctor and they will dispose of it and put it in your medical file
This whole thing is disturbing - frequently in my area the pharmacies do not have my oxycontin strength in stock or not enough - they are carrying less amounts in the pharmacies due to fear of robberies (has happened twice in Tampa) so I have gone to as many as 4 pharmacies looking for my medication and been unabled to find it - I am sure Cigna is having a hissy fit over me - my husband suggested I call them but I am so sick of insurance companies digging in my business - and speaking of business none of them are losing money over anything - sorry if I offend anyone but I would like to be able to put a hex on those creeps Grins TT
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Quote:
Originally Posted by sandim
Oh, and as far as getting multiple scripts from different doctor's goes for the original poster, most PM doctors either have you sign a contract that clearly states that any pain meds must come from them and them alone or if there is a clause that says if you go to another doctor/ER and recieve a script for meds, you must notify the PM's office by the next working day.......I have not had to sign a PM contract but I know that others have in my PM's office and it clearly states what the rules are for them to treat you.
Sandi
That's kind of my thought also. I am not sure it's a hippa violation - because the insurance company has access to all your appts and scripts.
I get all of my meds from one doc. I refuse all others.
I wish you luck - Can you sit with your regular doctor and explain everything so that he can maybe figure out that you're not an addict and that you need the meds?
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
It becomes a HIPPA violation when you expose the info to a second party without written permission from the patient - I took a seminar on this and the privacy laws in some cases are almost impossible to keep - grins and good night to all TT
My regular doc knows all this and has even called the pharmacies about the problem - I have been seeing him for years - he says if it ever becomes a problem he will take care of it - he treats very few chronic pain patients since he will only treat those who developed their chronic pain while under his care (I developed breast cancer and herniated some discs in my back)
Last edited by tampatar; 06-06-2007 at 05:10 AM.
Reason: addition
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
I had this happen to me once and the way I was able to resolve it was to get a copy of my file from the dentist and take it to my doctor personaly and let him read it with me there in the office with him and offerd to let him speak to the dentist on the phone with me there. but yes pain medication for a temp dental problem shouldnt conflict with chronic pain medication treatment , many doctors understand that, also offer to sign a pain medication managment contract with the doctor specifing terms for his continued treatment. I would also ask the insurence co. for a copy of your file with them also but be nice about it. speak to your doctor that was treaing you for the chronic pain IN PERSON not by phone,messages or though letters and bring recoards.
hope this helps
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Letthatsinkin,
I second Minladar's advice. Gather up all your records and go speak to the doctor in person.I would request a printout too from the pharmacy so that the doctor can see what exactly you had filled and when it was filled.
Keep us posted and good luck!
__________________
"It matters not how straight the gait
How charged with punishment the scroll.
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Quote:
Originally Posted by tampatar
It becomes a HIPPA violation when you expose the info to a second party without written permission from the patient - I took a seminar on this and the privacy laws in some cases are almost impossible to keep - grins and good night to all TT
My regular doc knows all this and has even called the pharmacies about the problem - I have been seeing him for years - he says if it ever becomes a problem he will take care of it - he treats very few chronic pain patients since he will only treat those who developed their chronic pain while under his care (I developed breast cancer and herniated some discs in my back)
Isn't it just if the 2nd party is not a person treating you (a pharmacist treats you)?
Cause I know my doc called the pharmacist. As well as going to hubbys commanding officer, blah blah blah. (long story short-one visit he decided I'm an addict that needs rehab). I reported him and he did get busted for hippa violation. However I thought that was only due to going to hubby's commanding officer. So it was due to both?
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
Health care professionals are allowed to share your health information with other health care professionals who are involved your care. Your pharmacist most certainly fits that description. Your health information can be shared under other situations without your consent. All health care providers must provide you with a notice of privacy practices upon request. Most people toss them out without a second glance but its really a doccument that is worth spending a few moments reading.
__________________
"It matters not how straight the gait
How charged with punishment the scroll.
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts
I am sorry my bad - the HIPPA violation comes with speaking to a second party without a need to know - your physician is able to speak to your pharmacy because they are involved in your direct care- your insurance company is not intitled to the specifics of your care as they are not involved in your care -
just say your are in your docs office and talk with him about the reasons for your depression - the insurance people are allowed to know you are depressed for payment but the fact your dog died is none of there business
sorry for confusion but that is how I understand that law = thanks to all because I would never have been able to live my life with peace and grace if not for the info I receive here Grins TT
Re: Insurance wrote letter, now doctor wont write scripts 
She is not "comfortable" filling them at the doses they are prescribed and do I know that the pain med is "highly addictive"? Of course I do you fool, but you can see that I am well regulated, don't take more than I am supposed to, am not "high" on the pain meds, am not getting scripts from anywhere else.......what is the problem?
