People Trying to Help

It is a shame when the first time you know anything about being cut off on the number of times a year you are allowed to be seen by a doctor, is when they cut you off without notice and embarrass you in front of the people trying to help you.

Of course I read every piece of material with regard to medicaid that came before me. I read about 12 visits. I interpreted that to be 12 visits to my Primary Care Physician [PCP]. My PCP makes referrals to specialists as he deems necessary. I was just following the road ahead.

I have an appointment next week with a Rheumatologist that's been on the books for 3 months. It's a shame I'm going to have to cancel it...

The Doctor Versus The Bureaucracy

I do not believe that I am an ignorant man. In many things, yes, of course. One can't know all about all, so I am ignorant in many things. But I can read, and I can generally comprehend an issue that affects my life as profoundly as my own health.

It just seems to me that if the government determines that you are disabled, and connects you with a Primary Care Physician that you select from a list of participating doctors [Approved to accept Medicaid], and you start the trek to discover what is wrong with you, evaluate treatment options, and establish a pro-active medically designed treatment plan... well, shouldn't Medicaid then support those efforts? One would THINK so, eh? Mr. Levine, any thoughts you'd care to share?

So let us review this trek and see, if we can; Why, in the middle of the doctors and tests necessary to determine a diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis, Medicaid cancels tests ordered by one of their own approved Neurosurgeons. The train gets knocked right off the tracks. I'm bewildered to be honest.

This little exercise begs the question: 'Is this the way to run an operation'? Because what Medicaid is saying to me is that I and the doctors I have been seeing at the direction of a Board Certified, Medicaid Approved Internal Medicine Specialist, AKA [Also Known As] my PCP [Primary Care Physician]... well, Medicaid says that we don't know what we are talking about. Wow.

I have no choice but to conclude that this entire exercise is futile. I am not going to get better learning what is wrong and treating it, according to Mr. Levine and his brainless bureaucracy.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Mr. Alan Levine is a much qualified administrator of large government operations: Alan Levine's Professional Summary

So why have we spent so much trying to discover what needs to be discovered on my case, yet Medicaid has not approved a single request from either myself or from health care professionals for any treatment other than medication?

I NEED something to transport me to the three bus stops within walking distance. Unfortunately I can no longer walk to these stops without major difficulty, plus the recovery time of a couple of days after each trip. Something like this would be fine, and I have a prescription for one written by my PCP at the time, but, like everything else they have denied, I expect this to be denied as well, and I believe I would have to present a prescription written by my current PCP:

The relief and benefits my life would experience would be life-changing. I would no longer be a shut-in, having transportation to reach the grocery store across the causeway, the three bus that can transport me anywhere. It would be a good move by medicaid. Mr. Levine?

Who's Who

Alan Levine

Secretary

Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals
628 N. 4th Street
P.O. Box 629 (Zip 70821-0629)
Baton Rouge, LA  70802 Phone: (225)342-9500
Fax: (225)342-5568 dhhwebadmin@la.gov

Long Term Care
1-877-456-1146

All of the Time, Every Time with Medicaid

Monday 10/12 - 8 hours on medicaid related meetings, phone calls, and forms. Progress = ZERO

Tuesday 10/13 - 6 hours  on medicaid related meetings, phone calls, and forms. Progress = 1 form mailed.

Wednesday 10/14 - 2 hours.
Progress = Medicaid canceled Urodynamics test. Ordered by Neurosurgeon. Scheduled July 27, 2000 for test date of October 20th. Have waited 2 months for this test and Medicaid canceled it a week out. Shame on you, Mr. Levine. Shame.

Thursday 10/14 - 7 hours.
Progress = 1 Board Certified Internist Appointment as directed by Neurosurgeon @ 11am
bus to and from hospital
blazing sun
90+ degrees F
strength sapped while waiting for bus [10 minutes @ 1 end and 55 minutes on the return].
serious difficulty walking - Pretzel Legs.
major pain
very frank and honest discussion with Primary Care Physician, who wrote 6 Rx's.

Note: Pharmacy could not fill 1 of these because I currently have an 11 day supply. The number of treatment days provided by the prescription, generally 30 days, must pass before medicaid  will pick up the cost of a refill. Generally makes sense.


NOTE II -

Pharmacy could not fill a 2nd because medicaid "is requiring pre-approval." Pharmacy will manage faxes and other requirements, then notify me when prescription is ready for pickup.

PROBLEM =This  means a second bus trip on another day, just to pick up 1 prescription for medicine I have been taking monthly since late 2007, and has never needed Medicaid's 'pre-approval' before now. Second non-budgeted round trip cost $2.20. Won't be able to get there now until Sunday at the earliest because, as is usual, I am experiencing volatile lower bowel distress and will be a shut-in for 2 days while recovering from today's activities. Bear in mind also, that this 2nd trip for an issue that should have been resolved by today's series of events will result in more bodily distress and a 2 day layup because of that activity. 6 days of T-O-R-T-U-R-E accomplishing what should have been accomplished today.  Thank you Mr. Levine. I wonder what the total cost of that prescription ends up being after tying up all these professionals because of bureaucratic nonsense? Wasting [stealing] the taxpayers $$$, Mr. Levine. Any thoughts you'd like to share?

This is representative of most days on Medicaid. The incentive to remove myself from the dole is great. My goal is to get well enough to say thanks to Medicaid, and move on, providing for myself once again.

Mr. Levine and this bureaucratic nonsense is not helping. Shame, shame, shame...

Fill in the blank, check the box. Move to the right...

All I Want For Christmas

When I fell into the steps and broke my teeth in May 2007, I thought maybe all I'd want is some teeth. Unfortunately, Medicaid can't provide medical related transportation. At least all of my attempts in the past two years have been fruitless. Plus, it takes 2 years to be seen by a dentist.

So, how about we shoot for something reasonable this year - RELIEF.

Whaddaya say, Mr. Levine?

Are ya up to it, or should I just hurry up and die?

PS - are you any relation to Dick Cheney? You both seem to favor torture.

Pain Management

NOT covered by Louisiana Medicaid. Anyone surprised by that? Can you spell T-O-R-T-U-R-E, Mr. Levine?

The ankle bone's connected to the what?

With genetics popping up all over the place in this medical exercise, this is the picture before me today:

Multiple Sclerosis is not fatal [but it sure is disabling], so I guess Mr. Levine wants me to hurry up and die. Can't let me cost Medicaid much money, ya know.

It's The Economy Stoopid!

Chronic low back pain disability is the most expensive benign condition that is medically treated in industrial countries. It is also the number one cause of disability in persons under age 45. After 45, it is the third leading cause of disability. Disc disease costs the health care system more than $50 billion a year.

Did ya catch that? BENIGN. It means it is not going to kill me. Louisiana Medicaid has forced me to submit to torture for almost 4 years because my condition is not fatal. Should I equate Mr. Levine with Dick Cheney? They do seem to both favor torture.

To be fair... The Neurosurgeon ordered physical therapy. I am still working on finding one that takes Medicaid and that I can get to by bus. Oh, I forgot...  I can't take the bus anymore, and not once in 2 years has Medicaid been able to provide transportation to and from medical appointments for me. Everyone that I knew that had transportation, moved to other states after The Thing. Lack of transportation is a serious issue down here.

Hmmm... wonder what it costs us in GDP? Bet that's a lot more than $50 billion a year.