[Beautiful_Pain]

The surgery center where I get my Orencia infusions just called. Tribal Health hasn't paid for the ones I have gotten, and they won't do my scheduled infusion tomorrow without authorization of payment. I asked them what I was supposed to do (how the hell should I know?) and was told to call my referring rheumatologist. I was given a name I have never heard of, who is 2.5 hours away from the rheumatologist that I /do/ go see. Its noon (lunchbreak) here now, so haven't been able to get ahold of anyone.

When I got prescribed Orencia in the first place, I talked to a lady from tribal health, and she said everything was fine/in order for me to go ahead with the treatment. So what the hell is wrong all of a sudden? I've had 4, its been 2 months...why was it just caught now?

I'm so sick of tribal health and their ineptness Just like last Friday when I went to my rheumy and went to check in and was told they hadn't gotten payment either, and they had no authorization number from tribal health--even though I called tribal health the beginning of last week, and was told it would be in and everything was fine.

Looks like I'm cut off Orencia until I figure out how to get this crap straightened out. It was just startiing to work, too, not good or great--but it was helping some. More than anything else I have been on to date has, and I was told the schedule is strict because being late, even a little, causes the Orencia to not work as well.

-insert long string of profanity here-

[(JD)]

Incompetence in a field that would function quite well with it, is frustrating isn't it?

Ok... I would make a few calls. FIRST to the tribal health lady. I hope you wrote down her name, but if not, begin keeping track of who you talk to when. Remind them it was all ok'd and then give them the phone number to call to give approval. Next, call the referring rheumie that you did see. It could be that they have the wrong rheumie and that's why they haven't received authorization.

I'm sure you will tell them that it's scheduled NOW and hopefully that will urge them to not wait til the end of the day. If you are nearby, I would go to the appointment, and hope that it is authorized. It would be a shame for them to "forget" to call you to say it was, and you not be there. Otherwise, it's another glitch and the best self care is to go with it. Hope it all works out quickly for you.

[Beautiful_Pain]

I called the TH lady, she wasn't in. I didn't get ahold of her at all yesterday.

I saw my rheumy a week ago (19 June). He's trying me on a different NSAID--which if early indications are anything, is not helping as well as the previous. My rheumy can't refer anything, he's covered for payment (I got that one straightened out and got in to see him last friday), but tribal health has rules. One is that someone I was referred to (rheumy) cannot refer me out to anyone, for anything, himself. He would have to contact my GP, who is the only one who can handle referrals--says tribal health. The last time I saw him (GP), he knew who I was seeing as a rheumy, what meds he had me on/starting. So I have no idea who put down a different rheumy, and especially one I've never seen or even heard of as my designated rheumy. I've never been to a doctor in that town. When I brought this up to the lady at the surgery center, she didn't know who had given the information, but that it was in my records. My GP, rheumy, the lady who handles 'contract health services' all know who I see. For the local hospital to come up with someone else, is nonsensical. When I check in to the hospital for an outpatient IV infusion, they ask who the ordering doc is. They know already, who my rheumy is, or they should.

I can't go, the person who called said if I went in, they would do it, but /I/ would have to pay for it--before I got it. The actual Orencia is fine, I get it at a tribal health pharmacy. Its just for the surgery center that hasn't been paid, for them to do the IV and monitor the administration of it.

Thanks Sky, maybe tomorrow I can get it straightened out in time to get it.

I'm just tired of TH incompetence, the two incidents, sadly, are not the only personal examples I have.