Guest guest Posted April 11, 2005 Report Share Posted April 11, 2005 My very long engagement with our plodding health care system continues to disappoint. In the last few days, I've received the following news: 1) Three months ago, I filed a petition to be granted " Administrative Status " under Medicaid rules. This is simpler than it sounds, a matter of being able to have tests done, drugs prescribed, and be seen by specialists without the order of a local PCP. There are no Lyme-friendly PCPs in my county, and the last Medicaid PCP I saw spent six months withholding test results, telling me there was really nothing wrong, and accusing me of feigning pain to get my jollies taking narcotics. On Saturday, a letter arrived informing me that my petition has been DENIED. The letter reminds me that " Administrative Status " is reserved for patients who have " serious, complex illnesses that require ongoing, specialized care. " I am instructed now to report to the Women's Health Center at Planner Parenthood, the only Medicaid " Primary Care Provider " currently accepting new patients in my county, and start all over again from scratch with their staff physician. 2) Last Tuesday, the pain specialist who had agreed to see me received my paperwork, the last step before making an appointment. This was supposed to be the last step before scheduling an appointment. On Friday, I called to see what the status was, and learned that the pain specialist is now no longer sure he is willing to see me. If he backs out because I have Lyme disease, he will be the third doctor to do so in the last two months. 3) My LLMD has not yet communicated anything about my case to the neurologist she referred me to. I am scheduled to see this neurologist on Thursday. It's a very long trip, by paulscha standards. No arrangement has been made to get the brain MRI from UCSF to the neuro either. The last time I tried to get records from UCSF, it took two and a half months for them to comply. Despite over a dozen phone calls and two written requests from me, spelling out exactly what records were needed, they sent only a tiny fraction of what I'd asked for. _______________________________________________________ Yes, it's a wonderful healthcare system, the finest on earth, by God! Anyone know if they're taking new patients on the moon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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