Re: This is what my doc did to me: by Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I think that is a great idea to contact someone in the newspaper or tv news. I know here they have a "problem solver" on the news that tries to help people in different situations. Here it is called Help Me - do you have anything like that? They can look into it and investigate it much better than you can as they have access to different sources, etc. From what I said it sounds to me like either your doctor got in trouble, maybe some of his cash patients were using him to get unnecessary prescriptions and he got busted. Or, they've had trouble collecting from cash patients and are just refusing all cash patients instead of reviewing individual cases, which I think is terribly wrong and unjust. I don't know if there is any legal action you can take, especially as it may be dangerous for you to not have your meds and if they do not send you prescriptions to tide you over, but I would definitely talk to someone and see if there is anything you can do. I'm sorry you are going through all of this, I know how hard it is to deal with things like this on top of the pain. I will pray that everything works out for you.

<hugs> Lori

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I had problems getting my prescriptions this month only because they are a bunch of idiots there..lol..but if you don't get the prescription in the mail and are almost out of meds, go to the emergency room. I was completely out of methadone and had like 1 oxycontin and 2 percocets left, and was in so much pain without the methadone. I waited until Saturday afternoon and by then I couldn't stand it anymore so I went to the ER. I had to wait forever but it was worth it. I brought all of my bottles with me so he could see that I was on the meds, when I last got them filled, etc. I couldn't reach my regular doc, his service wasn't even working, but the ER doc tried to reach him too and could not. He was not going to give me the methadone but I started crying because I knew I would be in agony without it, I explained how I was on all 3 and he gave me enough to last until Tuesday - 3 days worth. He also said if I run out and still hadn't received the prescriptions then to come back. He was really nice. So if you get down to like 1-2 days and no script you should go and explain the situation. Bring your bottles and the letter they gave you and it shouldn't be a problem.

<hugs> Lori

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I dont ho you feel about being in the publics eye but maybe contact a local newspaper and see if they will do a piece on it and that will surely bring it out in the open.

JBRhonda wrote:

On Tuesday, June 29th I had a scheduled appointment with my doctor who treats me for pain and have been his patient since January 2001 without any problems.I had been at that office only 3 weeks before taking my Aunt there to see him. All of a sudden my doctor wasnt there and it had taken 6 months to get her in. She had the choice of seeing another doctor and did. He is treating her well for the time being. I was handed a reminder card for myself with my upcoming appt. When I arrived on June 29th, I signed in and sat and waited for over 20mins before being told that I should have received a letter in the mail stating that I was no longer a patient. I told them no such letter had been sent to me. Of course when I read it, I broke down in wailing tears and not one of the ladies in the office came out and patted me on the back, sat

me down before I passed out, or even said F U. As a matter of fact, there were about 4 of them standing in a room next to the desk with the door open laughing at me.The letter has no date on it and says; After careful review and consideration, Metro Pain Clinic has decided that we will no longer accept nor continue treating patients who have no insurance coverage and are currently being seen on a cash basis. We regret this decision, but find it necessary due to the extreme limitations we encounter in attempting any other therapy or treatment other than providing medication. It goes on to say that they are including a 30 day supply prescription of your current meds while YOU make other arrangements for YOUR care. There was conveniently no doctor there and I didnt even get my prescriptions. I was told they would mail them to me even though I asked to pick them up. It is now July 5th and I have not received my prescriptions

through the mail. I dont believe I will get them either. I did find a new doctor in Southern Indiana closer to where I live. I dont know if they will prescribe what I am on but they did tell me that they received several calls from his patients in the same situation and they are taking over. I pray that this will resolve the situation but know that there are many who havent been able to. I know for a fact when he stopped taking IN Medicaid, a friend of mine tried for 6mos to get another doctor and couldnt. In the meantime, he kept writing her scripts every month until he finally took her back. Tell me if I am wrong, but I thought in a case like that a doctor could not just take away your meds for that reason and would have to keep supplying them for a period of time. We now have a doctor as our new Governor for the State of KY if that speaks volumes. I tried calling many doctors in Louisville who all said they no longer

took cash patients with no insurance. No one deserves the treatment I received and I know others have. If I had diabetes, AIDS, or High Blood Pressure, would they say if all we can do is give you meds, we dont want to treat you anymore???I find this highly unethical and have already contacted the ACLU;American Civil Liberties Union to review my case as one of discrimination. He may get away with not treating uninsured patients but the reason he gave was the thing that really got to me the most. I have so much scar tissue on my back that no one could do any type of blocks for many many years. The only option for me at this point would be the SCS which I consider an elective procedure and not a mandatory one. Jo or anyone that can give me some advice here, I would appreciate it so much. Thanks for all the love and care that I have received here. I love you all and without this group, would feel so alone in all of this. I

havent been able to eat, sleep, or think about anything other than what this doctor did. I had just had an appt with my psychiatrist who discussed putting me on a lower/different anti depressant because she felt I was doing better until she heard me on the phone after what happened. She couldnt believe it either and was in shock. Now, I am back on full dose of my old med. If I dont get the script in the mail for my pain med, I will end up in a wheelchair very quickly. I only have about 4 days worth left. I pray this doesnt happen to anyone else. What I wrote in the section of what was in the letter was verbatum. Thanks for listening and helping,Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Rhonda - This situation is horrendous. I don't know where you live but remind me please not to ever move there. Document, document, document. Please write a letter detailing exactly what occurred, including your perception of how the nurses responded to your distress and their failure to supply prescriptions (purportedly "included" with their letter of dismissal or at your appointment or during the days that immediately followed). Send it to the doctor and send copies to the folks at the ACLU and your state's board of registrations for both nurses and physicians. While your doctor may or may not have been within his rights to choose who he wants to treat, the manner in which it was handled was poor at best. I'm so sorry that you've had to go through all of this and can only hope that your new doctor and his staff treat you with more sensitivity and compassion. BarbaraRhonda

wrote:

On Tuesday, June 29th I had a scheduled appointment with my doctor who treats me for pain and have been his patient since January 2001 without any problems.I had been at that office only 3 weeks before taking my Aunt there to see him. All of a sudden my doctor wasnt there and it had taken 6 months to get her in. She had the choice of seeing another doctor and did. He is treating her well for the time being. I was handed a reminder card for myself with my upcoming appt. When I arrived on June 29th, I signed in and sat and waited for over 20mins before being told that I should have received a letter in the mail stating that I was no longer a patient. I told them no such letter had been sent to me. Of course when I read it, I broke down in wailing tears and not one of the ladies in the office came out and patted me on the back, sat me

down before I passed out, or even said F U. As a matter of fact, there were about 4 of them standing in a room next to the desk with the door open laughing at me.The letter has no date on it and says; After careful review and consideration, Metro Pain Clinic has decided that we will no longer accept nor continue treating patients who have no insurance coverage and are currently being seen on a cash basis. We regret this decision, but find it necessary due to the extreme limitations we encounter in attempting any other therapy or treatment other than providing medication. It goes on to say that they are including a 30 day supply prescription of your current meds while YOU make other arrangements for YOUR care. There was conveniently no doctor there and I didnt even get my prescriptions. I was told they would mail them to me even though I asked to pick them up. It is now July 5th and I have not received my prescriptions

through the mail. I dont believe I will get them either. I did find a new doctor in Southern Indiana closer to where I live. I dont know if they will prescribe what I am on but they did tell me that they received several calls from his patients in the same situation and they are taking over. I pray that this will resolve the situation but know that there are many who havent been able to. I know for a fact when he stopped taking IN Medicaid, a friend of mine tried for 6mos to get another doctor and couldnt. In the meantime, he kept writing her scripts every month until he finally took her back. Tell me if I am wrong, but I thought in a case like that a doctor could not just take away your meds for that reason and would have to keep supplying them for a period of time. We now have a doctor as our new Governor for the State of KY if that speaks volumes. I tried calling many doctors in Louisville who all said they no longer

took cash patients with no insurance. No one deserves the treatment I received and I know others have. If I had diabetes, AIDS, or High Blood Pressure, would they say if all we can do is give you meds, we dont want to treat you anymore???I find this highly unethical and have already contacted the ACLU;American Civil Liberties Union to review my case as one of discrimination. He may get away with not treating uninsured patients but the reason he gave was the thing that really got to me the most. I have so much scar tissue on my back that no one could do any type of blocks for many many years. The only option for me at this point would be the SCS which I consider an elective procedure and not a mandatory one. Jo or anyone that can give me some advice here, I would appreciate it so much. Thanks for all the love and care that I have received here. I love you all and without this group, would feel so alone in all of this. I

havent been able to eat, sleep, or think about anything other than what this doctor did. I had just had an appt with my psychiatrist who discussed putting me on a lower/different anti depressant because she felt I was doing better until she heard me on the phone after what happened. She couldnt believe it either and was in shock. Now, I am back on full dose of my old med. If I dont get the script in the mail for my pain med, I will end up in a wheelchair very quickly. I only have about 4 days worth left. I pray this doesnt happen to anyone else. What I wrote in the section of what was in the letter was verbatum. Thanks for listening and helping,Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. You can report the Dr. to the AMA, but, unfortunately, it sounds like he did it legally (not very caringly, though). Maybe with enough of the patients that he dropped, the AMA would listen.

I am particularly appalled that they would have made you come to the office, wait for 20 mins+ then tell you this in front of other patients. That is simply wrong. As for your prescriptions, fax a letter to the Dr.'s office, advising that their "overnight mail" was never received and you want them to either overnight them to the pharmacy or you will pick them up today.

It sounds as if your Dr. couldn't make enough $$ from his cash patients. There isn't much money in office visits to prescribe meds. It's pathetic that they would consider $$ over patient care, but that's the bottom line. Sad, but very true.

I'm glad you found another Dr. to start your care. I can only hope that this one turns out better than your prior.

Hugs,

Jo