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A bit concerned about this modern medical world.


sheep_herder

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I mentioned earlier that I was planning on getting a dexcom system to monitor my blood glucose. Thought I had things ready to go after visiting with my insurance group, diabetes specialist (in Billings), and my regular doctor.  Thought that it would be processed and sent via our mail order bcbs pharmacy.

Local diabetes specialists told me I would be receiving a call relative to the meter and the insurance coverage.  Got the call today, and seems the supplier is located in Houston, and the rep was suggesting I use my major medical plan rather than the pharmacy. So now I have numbers to go through and make a decision. Actually, she irritated me right off the bat, when she noted I only have Medicare A, and then proceeded to tell me what it would be like if I had Medicare B. I stopped her in mid-sentence, and told her she was wasting her time, since that bridge had already been crossed. I also noted that they suggest replacing the meter after a year, which was not addressed by any of the others during consultation.

Now, I will spend part of tomorrow visiting with bcbs reps and the local diabetes specialist via phone. May say to hell with the whole process and forget about the new technology.

In addition bcbs is in association with this new group, that will provide a meter and strips for testing bg, free of charge. Only problem is the bastards are tracking me. Found this out after turning on the meter and going through a few steps before testing, and then getting an email indicating I only had one or two steps to go.  I know, I know, this is the way the world is going with tracking devices in 'your' cars and ids at the lgs, but it is not what I want.  I may never use the new meter and keep paying for strips, as I've done since 1999.

Thanks for listening, just needed to vent. Easy way out is to say to hell with both systems.

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Unfortunately, your personal health information is more valuable than your life these days.  I have not seen any of these devices that do not want to communicate with their manufacturer or provider, although there may be some.  Your doctor may or may not know of any, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

 

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2 hours ago, sheep_herder said:

I mentioned earlier that I was planning on getting a dexcom system to monitor my blood glucose. Thought I had things ready to go after visiting with my insurance group, diabetes specialist (in Billings), and my regular doctor.  Thought that it would be processed and sent via our mail order bcbs pharmacy.

Local diabetes specialists told me I would be receiving a call relative to the meter and the insurance coverage.  Got the call today, and seems the supplier is located in Houston, and the rep was suggesting I use my major medical plan rather than the pharmacy. So now I have numbers to go through and make a decision. Actually, she irritated me right off the bat, when she noted I only have Medicare A, and then proceeded to tell me what it would be like if I had Medicare B. I stopped her in mid-sentence, and told her she was wasting her time, since that bridge had already been crossed. I also noted that they suggest replacing the meter after a year, which was not addressed by any of the others during consultation.

Now, I will spend part of tomorrow visiting with bcbs reps and the local diabetes specialist via phone. May say to hell with the whole process and forget about the new technology.

In addition bcbs is in association with this new group, that will provide a meter and strips for testing bg, free of charge. Only problem is the bastards are tracking me. Found this out after turning on the meter and going through a few steps before testing, and then getting an email indicating I only had one or two steps to go.  I know, I know, this is the way the world is going with tracking devices in 'your' cars and ids at the lgs, but it is not what I want.  I may never use the new meter and keep paying for strips, as I've done since 1999.

Thanks for listening, just needed to vent. Easy way out is to say to hell with both systems.

I have a cpap machine that does the same thing.  I feel like telling them all to go to hell.  It's none of the damn business how much sleep I'm getting or when.  It's a total violation.  But then after visiting the doctor several times and realizing how disorganized they are about retrieving the data -- ,my stance changed.  Often they asked me to come in and bring in the storage device when it was being recorded online.  What?!?  These folks would have trouble changing the batteries in a flashlight.  Point is, yes it's tracked and yes it's a violation, but fact is you and I aren't the center of the universe.  They'll only use this data so that they can justify terminating your payment if they want.  If that's the case, then you haven't really lost anything.  

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Just now, Dottles said:

I have a cpap machine that does the same thing.  I feel like telling them all to go to hell.  It's none of the damn business how much sleep I'm getting or when.  It's a total violation.  But then after visiting the doctor several times and realizing how disorganized they are about retrieving the data -- ,my stance changed.  Often they asked me to come in and bring in the storage device when it was being recorded online.  What?!?  These folks would have trouble changing the batteries in a flashlight.  Point is, yes it's tracked and yes it's a violation, but fact is you and I aren't the center of the universe.  They'll only use this data so that they can justify terminating your payment if they want.  If that's the case, then you haven't really lost anything.  

They are quite impressed with how regularly I use mine. Withoot it sleep is even more fitful, so it is a no brainer. 

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27 minutes ago, jdc2000 said:

Unfortunately, your personal health information is more valuable than your life these days.  I have not seen any of these devices that do not want to communicate with their manufacturer or provider, although there may be some.  Your doctor may or may not know of any, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

 

For blood glucose meters, it is relatively easy. I just write the numbers in a book, and the doc looks at my book, when I visit or drop in so they can make a copy of a 2-week period. They gave up having all the software packages to download from all the different meters on the market. It is only the new meter associated with the insurance co. that tracks me and the readings. I don't have to use it even though the meter and the strips are free, compared to $0.50/strip, of which I use at least 4/day with my current meter. I will use less strips if I get the dexcom, so the savings using their meter would be less than the $2*365=$710/year.

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23 minutes ago, RalphWaldoMooseworth said:

They are quite impressed with how regularly I use mine. Withoot it sleep is even more fitful, so it is a no brainer. 

Yep. Point is I found that nobody was watching my data. But they could retrieve it if they need to. But it's not like they have a lot of interest in it. The only people who care is Medicare. They just want to be able to can your payments if you are not using it. 

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9 hours ago, sheep_herder said:

Thanks for listening, just needed to vent. Easy way out is to say to hell with both systems.

Looks like you still have options that work for YOU!  Stick to your guns.

It seems like they screwed up the process.  Usually it is hook you, reel you in, and THEN club you senseless once you are onboard and have no easy escape route.  They seem to have started trying to club you before they had locked you in!

Honestly, ask yourself what you truly gain from the new process.  If you have been successful for years with the old process, do you really need the new one or is it just being sold as a big improvement or time saver?  I like the idea of the newer systems, but they may still need some time for the market to come up with a variety of options - one or more of which is not so intrusive on personal privacy.  I like the idea of MY doctor having ready access to my blood & health numbers, but definitely NOT my insurance or a drug/medical device manufacturer.

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