Medicare Coverage Changes
I saw the following information on Integrated Diabetes Services Facebook page. I can't say I am happy to read this.
"INDUSTRY UPDATE: It looks as though some serious changes are on the horizon in the blood glucose meter industry. Medicare has announced that it is drastically cutting reimbursement for test strips starting this July. This means that many Medicare beneficiaries will either have to switch to generic meters/strips or have to cover some steep copays.
Because private health plans often follow Medicare's lead, this could have a ripple effect throughout the diabetes market. It might not be a bad idea to start stocking up on your favorite brand of strips, because they may be harder to come by in the not-too-distant future. Just some helpful advice!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Betty J on
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I also saw that on FB and shared with others. I've been on Medicare a little bit longer and believe me it doesn't get any easier. Medicare or any insurance is supposed to help us medically but Medicare just keeps making it harder. They think of us as stamped out cookies or robots meaning we're all the same. Who ever set their policies doesn't have the fainist idea what Diabetes is about. It makes it deifficult for us to maage our Diabetes. I'm tired of others trying to manage my disease...makes you want to give up sigh.
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Intergrated Diabetes Services is an a practice outside of Philly run by Gary Scheiner who is a CDE...and a dynamite teacher. He is well known in the Diabetes community.
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Permalink Reply by karen on -
Here you can see the facts:
http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp?Counter=4513&...
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Thanks Karen, I kinda remember seeing that info a few years ago when they did it to Medicaid patients...I did think at that time that it would evidently apply to me.
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Permalink Reply by karen on
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You are welcome, Betty J. I prefer to get my info from the group or source making the "rules". I did not intend to dis IDS, but the internet is full of misinformation. Medica*** should be called Nightmare if you ask me ;)
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I didn't mean evidently, meant to say eventually would apply to me. I don't blame you for being leery of posts in cyber space. But I can tell you that IDS (Integrateddiabetesservices.com) is real. The practice is owned by Gary Scheiner, CDE who is well known in our comunity. He himself is Type 1 and located just outside of Philly where I live. He is well informed re: what's happening in the Diabetes world.
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Permalink Reply by Judith on -
I saw this one coming and started hoarding strips about three years ago when Kaiser overnight told me I had to go from testing 7xs/day to testing 1.66 times/day. It took awhile, but I found a doc who okayed 3-5 times/day. I have some leeway. Most of us don't.
Now I am a tightly controlled, no-meds yet T2. So I can improvise, since I also do Crazy Dr B's super lo-carb way of eating. I am mostly worried about newbies. When I was first diagnosed, I figured out control by testing 7-10 times/day to see what food did to me. Newbies will not be able to do this and may never have enough info to understand. It makes my heart ache....
PS---I have OneTouch Ultra Strips that I may not get to before they expire. If you are in need, email me privately.....Blessings...Judith in Portland
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Permalink Reply by jims on
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thank you all for sharing. i have been fighting tooth and nail over this situation.
they seem to bounce everything and its my job to fight em tooth and nail.
i thought it was just me - nope the situation is widespread as they try to shave medicare costs.
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Permalink Reply by PatientX on -
I see wal mart is stepping in and filling the gap where insurance is leaving people hanging. It takes one company to step in and drive cost down. I sometimes don't like how wal-mart operates to drive prices down but I give them credit on low cost diabetic supplies. The relion prime test strips are 9 dollars for 50. I have compared them against accu-check and other expensive test strips and the results were very accurate. I think other companies will have to bring cost down and get rid of those insane markups since Walmart now sees a way to bring testing cost down. Here is the link.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Prime-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-50...
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