Insurance cutting medication

[mwolf2022]

Finding it hard to get by every day with no help from doctors or insurcance and now this.
Yesterday I received a email from my insurance carrier.They wanted to notify me that come January 1 my medications and all opiates for that matter will be reduced to one 30 day supply per calendar year.

How do they think this is going to go , I know I am pretty bad , but I know there is plenty of people who are worse then me.

When you depend on medication just to get through the day and have it taken from you I can't imagine this will work.

I would love to know who thought this up.You are going to have patients who are on higher dosages then I am and then what , they are going to have to pretty much go cold turkey.

Amazing how healthcare works , enough ranting for now.

Mike

[jsewell]

Mike
After struggling with my pain management doctor all week trying to get me enough meds to get me through the weekend till surgery monday, i read this and can't believe it. So you get one Ok month and then have to suffer the rest of the year? THat is just crazy. I'd be sitting out at their office . If i get that news from my insurance co, i will be there having them explain how that is supposed to work.
As it was i told my pain management docs nurse that i needed more for the weekend, i am in horrible pain and have been since my surgery on Aug 2nd. so i tell her i have had to take more than normal. So every 4 hours i take 20mg percocet. Somehow she decided i only needed it for one day out of the weekend and came up with 7 pills. I asked her how it could be 7 if i take 2 at a time anyway. ????? I really need 12 but could make it with a little less, she must me in cahoots with your insurance company
Judy

[mwolf2022]

I dont think they truely understand pain. My doctor's assistant continues to look at me like i have three eyes when i tell her the meds dont work.

I dont care what medication they give me as long as it helps.Unfortunately opiates have been the only rx that has helped me and i have tried a lot of medications.

[jsewell]

I'm sure they don't understand pain unless they have experienced it themselves.
My pain management doctors office finally called back and they are giving me a prescription for 7 pills. They also can't do math. I said i take 2 at a time. And every 4 hours around the clock. How do they come up with 7 for Sunday. I guess i have none for Monday morning before surgery and not one for when i get home from the hospital. Nice. I'll have to go through this all over again.
So much for managing my pain!
I hope you get some help soon
Judy

[Maria]

I honestly believe that one can dedicate their life to practicing pain management however unless one has suffered to the degree that many of us have and for a prolonged period of time not just able to get a surgery and relief and no more pain.. or have a very close family member suffering terribly~ I think that it's theoretical to say the least in how one practices.

Chronic or Intractable pain wraps itself around every fiber of one's being and invades every single second of how one interacts with life and other beings.

When I have a lot of pain I really don't like to be around anyone except my cats. Not even my dog as she requires walking. The cats on the other hand are old and very zen like. They know what to to do when in pain .. hide, retreat and rest.

Unfortunately I need opioid pain medication. Hmmm... well interestingly enough the "healthcare" system introduced me to opioid pain medication and I've been on the same dose, same drug now for 12 years. It's actually a very cheap drug. No wonder WC (future med benefits) doesn't squawk too much re pulling my benefits (they've tried over the last 7 years or so). WC now only authorizes this medication for me and nothing else. No ESIs even tho I did well with them.

I'm sorry to hear anyone is treated less than adequately for their pain esp after perhaps being treated adequately and experiencing what is known as physiologic dependency. It's a drag to be taken off of something that works or to be reduced to a dosage that doesn't work. Just doesn't make sense with regard to the Oath that PM as a entity claims to treat.

Then again I am not keeping current with what the DEA is doing with regard to vigilance of PMs practices... that might be what's the drive behind people being able to practice the way they really think is right. Oh yes and of course let us not forget insurance BS. Ughhh.. Big nasty factor in any practice of medicine (any field) these days.

[Eddie G]

Well I got a good one. My internist for the last 9 years dropped me and referred me to pain management. However no PM would take me with all the drugs I was on. (Exalgo 2x daily, Roxicodone 90mg every 3 hours, Lyrica 2x daily) A Pain management psychiatrist who I like agreed to take my case provided I go to a 10 day detox. The lawyer & my judge in my workers comp case think its a good idea.. Well on my own (using cannabis referred by my dr.) I was able to get down to 15mg Roxi every 3 hours, no more Exalgo. My issue is the horrible pain. Im actually comfortable at 30mg Roxi every 3hrs. How am I going to deal with no opiates and withdrawls?(But thats what the drug companies count on right?) If I can get down to 15mg. , maybe I can get off these.

Ive had other patients think I was nuts for going through this, but its a good barometer on if Ill have another surgery someday too....