I guess you now know by the title I'm in a not so good place with the coverage the seniors and disabled are forced to accept. I received that wonderful notification that I was $120 away from "THE BLACK HOLE" coverage gap-purchasing only my daily meds required for survival. I've been extremely careful, trying to not tread those waters. After all, I'm still paying off all those wonderful meds from 2008!
As luck would have it, I started coughing again. This past Saturday it got a new complication. I was coughing up blood. Now this is a MAJOR red flag for me, since this was one of my original symptoms. So to say I was scared is an understatement. After calling my transplant coordinator, some cough suppressant with codeine was called into my local pharmacy. Imaging my surprise when I was told the cost was $125.00-because my Part D Provider CVS Caremark Silverscript does not cover cough suppressants. The pharmacist suggested a lesser expensive one and I was caught in the hurdle of ruining my coordinators day off. I called CVS Caremark when I got home and got the usual song and dance.. "Well if it were a Monday, we could push through an authorization/" BUT that takes 72 hrs- "Well yes". Completely unfair since they regularly change the formulary forcing all participants to switch meds-bother Doctors- JUST every other month or so. I've actually had to stop updating my formulary book I have received so many.
My luck ran true to form once again and I began a light temperature. The decision was made to call in the Big Guns... I was getting Levacquin 750 mg for 5 days. As I inwardly gritted my teeth ( remember the tooth incident?) thinking of how exorbitant the cost was going to be. Was I ever wrong... IT WAS WORSE!!! Five tablets cost me $140.23! Do you realize that is $28.05 per tablet. Oh and CVS well they saved me a whopping $38.76..
I know you'll say well you'll get a $250 rebate from the gov't when you hit the gap. So what! Look how much I have to spend to get out of the gap.
When things like this happen, I have to wonder is there anyone minding the raises our elected officials get? Is anyone up there controlling the cost of these meds? NOPE. Are they trying to cut physician payouts -forcing us to pay more- YEP. Are they not giving out that cost of living raise? NOPE
Are they helping other countries while we have scores of unemployed? Are they rebuilding other countries while Americans can't afford food?How they in good conscience send billions to help others and not help their own?
I mentioned to the lovely CSR from CVS who answered my call that I intended to climb back on my soapbox, and let others know what they are doing to their members. I have.
By the way, I also sent a letter to President Barack Obama- wonder if he'll answer...?
Showing posts with label Medicare cuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medicare cuts. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Disappointing editorial in todays paper
I read the following editorial with increasing dismay this morning.
apparently all those promises of NO CUTS TO MEDICARE we were
promised were once again false campaign/ presidential promises.
While this may not affect many of you in other states, it has a huge impact on Florida.
Many retirees have chosen to make Floridas warmer climates their homes in later years.
With these cuts those reitrees who are not in perfect health and the disabled all which are
ineligible for a Medicare Supplement will be hit hardest.
Once again, those who can least afford it, will be the ones to be made to pay and struggle.
I have been in situations where I had to juggle finances to achieve the unthinkable.
Pulling my hair out, and wringing my hands in total despair was not my idea of fun.
Why should the disabled, organ transplant recipients, and seniors who have been denied a Medicare supplement once again be forced to choose between life and health care, prescriptions, etc.
And why, can someone tell me, why should a physician have to feel the brunt of watching their patients suffer due to financial difficulties and Medicare cuts?
More Medicare pressure
I have been a practicing internist in Venice for 10 years. I am writing concerning Medicare cuts in physician reimbursement, not to make readers feel sorry for doctors, but to let people know how these cuts will affect them.
Physician payments through Medicare are based on a formula called the sustainable growth rate. This has resulted in yearly cuts in physician reimbursements, which have been delayed by last-minute acts of Congress. These fixes, for the most part, have resulted in fees remaining the same while expenses continue to rise. This year, Congress put a two-month patch on the problem. It expired March 1 and physician reimbursement was cut by 21.6 percent.
What will happen as a result? Physicians will drop out of the Medicare program en masse or, if they're able, they will retire. Many will go out of business. Florida physicians will leave for areas with fewer Medicare patients, resulting in Medicare patients losing their doctors or paying them out of pocket. The doctors who remain will cut costs by cutting staff and services such as after-hours care. This will result in further pressure on emergency rooms. Doctors will also begin charging patients for things such as phone calls, prescription refills, etc.
Readers, tell your congressmen to fix the problem. If not, you'll have other chances, because reimbursement is supposed to be cut further to a total of 47 percent by 2012. But, by that time, there may not be any physicians left.
Eric Lough, M.D.
Nokomis, FL
apparently all those promises of NO CUTS TO MEDICARE we were
promised were once again false campaign/ presidential promises.
While this may not affect many of you in other states, it has a huge impact on Florida.
Many retirees have chosen to make Floridas warmer climates their homes in later years.
With these cuts those reitrees who are not in perfect health and the disabled all which are
ineligible for a Medicare Supplement will be hit hardest.
Once again, those who can least afford it, will be the ones to be made to pay and struggle.
I have been in situations where I had to juggle finances to achieve the unthinkable.
Pulling my hair out, and wringing my hands in total despair was not my idea of fun.
Why should the disabled, organ transplant recipients, and seniors who have been denied a Medicare supplement once again be forced to choose between life and health care, prescriptions, etc.
And why, can someone tell me, why should a physician have to feel the brunt of watching their patients suffer due to financial difficulties and Medicare cuts?
More Medicare pressure
I have been a practicing internist in Venice for 10 years. I am writing concerning Medicare cuts in physician reimbursement, not to make readers feel sorry for doctors, but to let people know how these cuts will affect them.
Physician payments through Medicare are based on a formula called the sustainable growth rate. This has resulted in yearly cuts in physician reimbursements, which have been delayed by last-minute acts of Congress. These fixes, for the most part, have resulted in fees remaining the same while expenses continue to rise. This year, Congress put a two-month patch on the problem. It expired March 1 and physician reimbursement was cut by 21.6 percent.
What will happen as a result? Physicians will drop out of the Medicare program en masse or, if they're able, they will retire. Many will go out of business. Florida physicians will leave for areas with fewer Medicare patients, resulting in Medicare patients losing their doctors or paying them out of pocket. The doctors who remain will cut costs by cutting staff and services such as after-hours care. This will result in further pressure on emergency rooms. Doctors will also begin charging patients for things such as phone calls, prescription refills, etc.
Readers, tell your congressmen to fix the problem. If not, you'll have other chances, because reimbursement is supposed to be cut further to a total of 47 percent by 2012. But, by that time, there may not be any physicians left.
Eric Lough, M.D.
Nokomis, FL
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