It has been extremely frustrating. It started when I had to get a new PCP, since the current one stopped taking Medicare. Did the 6 min walk test with the new one - the numbers qualified me - paperwork for Medicare was done and faxed to DME provider. They refused to submit to Medicare stating it wasn't done properly. After a few months of this, I made an initial appointment with a pulmo - did a PFT and another 6 min walktest. Numbers more than met Medicare guidelines. Paperwork went to the DME and the wait was on again. Then DME wanted a face to face letter from my PCP who just never bothered to do it. I tried to get help from Medicare, but they wouldn't even talk to me - said it was between them and the vendor, so M'care was forbidden to talk to me directly, not even to answer a policy question. Finally just went back to the pulmo, told him what was going on and he got DME on the phone and chewed their tailfeathers. Not only was the paperwork now going to go through, the DME said they would write off 6 months of my bills. I'm still waiting to get a useable POC from them so I can leave the house without my sats dropping into the 70s . What a mess.
That is so ridiculous, ChiMin. My doc's office called the provider and faxed over the prescription and my equipment was delivered the next day. Once they got the coding right, Medicare and my supplemental paid for it. Very strange thing - I kept getting the notices from M'care that nothing was being paid on the billings. This went on for several months. I finally called the provider and they didn't seem to know the claims were being turned down - LOL. Eventually they got it all straightened out and got paid.
Petra, I already told him not to expect me back until mid-Spring. I only went in to get him to help me straighten out my DME vendor - still trying to get paperwork submitted to Medicare for O2 coverage (it's only taken a year with me paying out of pocket). I deemed it more important than the risk of picking up a bug.
Once the snow flies, I rarely leave the house. Too many sick people. That's how I've stayed healthy for 16 years.
ChiMin, I make it a rule to never visit doctor or dentist office after October 1st. Too risky!! My pulmo prefers that patients call in if they have a problem. My routine annual is scheduled for May each year in hopes of avoiding any exposure to pathogens others may have brought along.
Got my flu jab 2 weeks ago. Had to wait until my cold cleared up - first time I've been sick in more than 16 years. Caught the bug at my pulmo's office - of all places.
I was just reading that the SA strain you had, Shirley, is covered in ours this winter.
my arm is quite thin, so I have to remind the tech/nurse not to go too deeply with the needle. Never had a problem with sore arm but once. Any discomfort is better than flu. Flu kills
I got my shot Oct 22 but my arm was sore for a few days and I kept moving it and that helped some. I think it is better to get the vaccine than not to get it.
Since the flu vaccine does not contain a live virus, contracting flu from it is impossible. The only reaction I ever had was possibly a headache, and I cannot truthfully say that the vaccine had anything to do with it. Would take headache over flu anyday.
Getting the flu from the shot is a myth, but here is more information. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/in-depth/flu-shots/art-20048000?pg=2
I think it was Sept 28 that I got my flu shot and funny it was the first time ever that I felt kind of flu like the next day have heard people say they got flu from the shot but its said that is not true I don't know.
We had a terrible strain on flu during our Winter this year n the Southern Hemisphere and many were hospitalized and some deaths - unfortunately this strain is was not covered by the flu shot. Hopefully they have it covered for your Winter.
ChiMin, please see the new thread I started in the "COPD QUESTIONS" category.
It has been extremely frustrating. It started when I had to get a new PCP, since the current one stopped taking Medicare. Did the 6 min walk test with the new one - the numbers qualified me - paperwork for Medicare was done and faxed to DME provider. They refused to submit to Medicare stating it wasn't done properly. After a few months of this, I made an initial appointment with a pulmo - did a PFT and another 6 min walktest. Numbers more than met Medicare guidelines. Paperwork went to the DME and the wait was on again. Then DME wanted a face to face letter from my PCP who just never bothered to do it. I tried to get help from Medicare, but they wouldn't even talk to me - said it was between them and the vendor, so M'care was forbidden to talk to me directly, not even to answer a policy question. Finally just went back to the pulmo, told him what was going on and he got DME on the phone and chewed their tailfeathers. Not only was the paperwork now going to go through, the DME said they would write off 6 months of my bills. I'm still waiting to get a useable POC from them so I can leave the house without my sats dropping into the 70s . What a mess.
That is so ridiculous, ChiMin. My doc's office called the provider and faxed over the prescription and my equipment was delivered the next day. Once they got the coding right, Medicare and my supplemental paid for it. Very strange thing - I kept getting the notices from M'care that nothing was being paid on the billings. This went on for several months. I finally called the provider and they didn't seem to know the claims were being turned down - LOL. Eventually they got it all straightened out and got paid.
Petra, I already told him not to expect me back until mid-Spring. I only went in to get him to help me straighten out my DME vendor - still trying to get paperwork submitted to Medicare for O2 coverage (it's only taken a year with me paying out of pocket). I deemed it more important than the risk of picking up a bug.
Once the snow flies, I rarely leave the house. Too many sick people. That's how I've stayed healthy for 16 years.
ChiMin, I make it a rule to never visit doctor or dentist office after October 1st. Too risky!! My pulmo prefers that patients call in if they have a problem. My routine annual is scheduled for May each year in hopes of avoiding any exposure to pathogens others may have brought along.
Got my flu jab 2 weeks ago. Had to wait until my cold cleared up - first time I've been sick in more than 16 years. Caught the bug at my pulmo's office - of all places.
I was just reading that the SA strain you had, Shirley, is covered in ours this winter.
my arm is quite thin, so I have to remind the tech/nurse not to go too deeply with the needle. Never had a problem with sore arm but once. Any discomfort is better than flu. Flu kills
Some years you have a reaction to it and others you don't - sometimes I wonder if it is due to the skill with which the vaccine is administered.
I got my shot Oct 22 but my arm was sore for a few days and I kept moving it and that helped some. I think it is better to get the vaccine than not to get it.
Since the flu vaccine does not contain a live virus, contracting flu from it is impossible. The only reaction I ever had was possibly a headache, and I cannot truthfully say that the vaccine had anything to do with it. Would take headache over flu anyday.
Getting the flu from the shot is a myth, but here is more information. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/in-depth/flu-shots/art-20048000?pg=2
I think it was Sept 28 that I got my flu shot and funny it was the first time ever that I felt kind of flu like the next day have heard people say they got flu from the shot but its said that is not true I don't know.
I got my flu shot last week. I heard that the flu would be coming in earlier this year. Hope its the correct shot.
We had a terrible strain on flu during our Winter this year n the Southern Hemisphere and many were hospitalized and some deaths - unfortunately this strain is was not covered by the flu shot. Hopefully they have it covered for your Winter.