Looking Forward, While Limping

Today is Friday. A glance at my calender tells me it's back to the New Ortho (NO) on Tuesday. I spent a large part of my day driving around picking up MRI and CT scan films in preparation for this appointment. There was a time I would have naively believed that until they instructed me to handle something the doctor's office would handle it. Now, I've been around the block a few times. I followed up will all parties and have possession of all pertinent films.

In the midst of all the phone calls about tests and films, etc there was a drama unfolding. I am only on one daily prescription, an anti-inflammatory that won't shred my kidneys. It's basically super-Advil. It works best when it builds up in my system. Now, Old Ortho (OO) requires EVERY refill to have doctor authorization. ALL of them even non-narcotics. It's a real pain for someone taking a prescription anti-inflammatory daily. I mean give me a break, it shouldn't be such a big deal. So, I call the pharmacy every 30ish days and they call the OO and so it goes...

This time I called the pharmacy and they called OO, just as they always have. The difference being that shortly afterward the OO's office called me. Apparently, they got sick of approving me every 30days and finally called in 90days worth last time. This was news to me as I was only given 30. Now I was wondering if some kind of fraud had been committed charging my insurance for 90days worth and giving me 30 thus screwing me.

Ok, fraud is a lot less likely than miscommunication given OO's office staff's history. I was informed later by OO that it was "taken care of." Silly me, I even believed it. Now, the pharmacy called to inform me that they needed insurance authorization. I waited a day and then called them to clarify. Apparently, even though the pharmacist and I agreed my last refill was 7/29 and it's a 30day supply the insurance decided it was too soon to fill it until 9/17! Now, I'm no math whiz, but I'm fairly certain 7/29 plus 30days is closer to 8/29 not 9/16! They added two weeks because they could.

Now I have been without too long and I am miserable with pain. It will take a few days once I have it again to get back to my usual level of pain. The pain level I'm better able to ignore. Just prey, my friends, that Tuesday answers some questions, provides a ray of hope and officially begins my severing ties with OO for good.