Good News from Kaiser on Home Testing

[Jackie]

The Anticoagulation Clinic has a new Pharmacist, where I go for lab tests. I just had quite an interesting chat with him. He told me that he expected Home Testing for INR to become just like Diabetic home testing. Kaiser is running them through all kinds of classes on INR Home Testing because of Medicare being an advocate.

I am Kaiser's first patient to home test in Fremont, CA. I have gone through hoops to get the Clinic to learn about home testing. It now looks like patients won't have to go through the same stressful two years that I have. I am very proud of myself for my continued effort to get home testing approved by Kaiser. Thank you all for your help, I have learned so much.

 

[Bridgette]

Good on you Jackie!
Give yourself a pat on the back.

 

[Freddie]

WELL DONE JACKIE.
Sure could use your expertise (not the stress) over here.

Go and celebrate you deserve it

 

[Ross]

Now do the american thing and sue them for anxiety!

 

[Jackie]

Now do the american thing and sue them for anxiety!

I am really happy to have been of public service, and have a new pharmacist that understands. He even seems to have some expertise in handling warfarin patients. My INR was 3.3 on INRation and 3.6 lab draw, he didn't panic and tell me too cut down my dose tonight. I think I have won!

 

[Jackie]

WELL DONE JACKIE.
Sure could use your expertise (not the stress) over here.

Go and celebrate you deserve it

My only expertise came from this wonderful group of people. I had to fight for a long time, however, I finally won the monitor because my Medicare is turned over to Kaiser and Medicare is an advocate. I finally won on appeal. I just happened to be the leader of the pack. When you are old and have a mechanical valve Medicare comes in handy. Getting the anticoagulation clinic to accept home testing was the biggest hurtle. Good Luck Freddie on your pursuit.

I am celebrating with a glass of wine right now.

 

[dtread]

The key here may be the fact that anticoagulation home testers are Medicare approved Durable Medical Equipment (DME). They are considered by Medicare as in the about same category as Diabetic testers.

I'm wondering if Kaiser would have allowed if you were not on Medicare. That will be the real test; i.e., if someone that is not on Medicare tries to get a home tester (and tries to get Kaiser to pay for it).

I don't think Kaiser Mid-Atlantic has changed their attitude much regarding home testing, but I might be wrong. However, I believe that if I was eligible for Medicare that they would have a hard time denying a request for home tester, since its Medicare approved DME. A year ago they told me that they would not pay for one, so I bought my own (and it works great). I won't be eligible for Medicare for several years.

Good for you for fighting for your tester and congrats on getting it.

 

[Mercia]

I am currently in the process of applying for my in home tester. I am with Kaiser, as my HMO and do not have medicare.

Will keep you updated on progress

 

[zipper2]

Good job Jackie......WAY TO GO!!!


zipper2 (DEB)

 

[Eva]

Good job, Jackie. We are proud of you too

 

[Ross]

I am really happy to have been of public service, and have a new pharmacist that understands. He even seems to have some expertise in handling warfarin patients. My INR was 3.3 on INRation and 3.6 lab draw, he didn't panic and tell me too cut down my dose tonight. I think I have won!

Why did he tell you to cut down on your dose? If your in range, leave it alone. Honestly, don't change a thing unless you've been trending upwards. Trust what your machine says, not what the lab says.

 

[Jackie]

Why did he tell you to cut down on your dose? If your in range, leave it alone. Honestly, don't change a thing unless you've been trending upwards. Trust what your machine says, not what the lab says.

He didn't tell me to cut down on my dose, that is what the other pharmicist would have done, he did not panic and tell me to cut back. I do trust my machine.

 

[Jackie]

The key here may be the fact that anticoagulation home testers are Medicare approved Durable Medical Equipment (DME). They are considered by Medicare as in the about same category as Diabetic testers.

I'm wondering if Kaiser would have allowed if you were not on Medicare. That will be the real test; i.e., if someone that is not on Medicare tries to get a home tester (and tries to get Kaiser to pay for it).

I don't think Kaiser Mid-Atlantic has changed their attitude much regarding home testing, but I might be wrong. However, I believe that if I was eligible for Medicare that they would have a hard time denying a request for home tester, since its Medicare approved DME. A year ago they told me that they would not pay for one, so I bought my own (and it works great). I won't be eligible for Medicare for several years.

Good for you for fighting for your tester and congrats on getting it.

I do think that you must be on Medicare and have a mechanical valve to qualify for the monitor with Kaiser. When I was chatting to the new pharmacist he mentioned that m

 

[Jackie]

I do think that you must be on Medicare and have a mechanical valve to qualify for the monitor with Kaiser. When I was chatting to the new pharmacist he mentioned that m

Oops, not sure why I sent before I was finished. The pharmacist mentioned that most of their are Warfarin patients are on Medicare. I only take credit for making them aware of the fact that Medicare was an advocate for home testing with patients that have a mechanical valve. Then I have to fight with the clinic to accept the fact that they had to change their protocol because of Medicare.

 

[Marty]

Jackie, Good for you. Kaiser needs a lot of "education" in this area. I work for Kaiser in Falls Church Virginia. Our ACT is managed by some accomplished pharmacists. However the last time I discussed home testing with them I was told that I should not trust home testing monitors because they have been proven inaccurate. I didn't have time to enlighten them.I own my own monitor and pay for the strips. I am eligible for Medicare but did not want to struggle with the government primarily because of the reporting requirement.I am not a Kaiser patient. My private practise PC is happy to have me manage my own INR. He checks me with the central lab once a year. Incidentally MidAtlantic Kaiser Permanente is being taken over by the northen California Kaiser. Maybe we will make some progress in this area now.

 

[catwoman]

Oops, not sure why I sent before I was finished. The pharmacist mentioned that most of their are Warfarin patients are on Medicare. I only take credit for making them aware of the fact that Medicare was an advocate for home testing with patients that have a mechanical valve. Then I have to fight with the clinic to accept the fact that they had to change their protocol because of Medicare.

Jackie:
Back early in the spring 2008, Medicare added a-fib to factors allowing for home-monitoring.