Be vigilant. Today I have spent several hours trying to fill a prescription. It is not a formulary drug and it must be approved by the doctor (AGAIN), even though he wrote the prescription. The insurance company sent the doctor a form to fill out concerning treatment and what disease this drug will be used to treat. The insurance provider said he did not answer 'question 7 in section 8'. The doctor's office said that question is answered NO on the original copy but they will re fax it. The doctor's office has no 'rejection' by the insurance company although the insurance provider said they did notify them by return fax. Bottom line--the insurance company does not want to pay for namenda. The pharmacy is not at fault, they can't fill it without approval from the insurance provider. The doctor is not a fault, he prescribed the drug and approved it for treatment when he wrote the prescription. The insurance company is holding up this simple process with no regard to a patient's well being. The insurance provider expects the elderly patient or their caregiver to FIGHT for their meds. Does the medicine work? We don't know--it is early in the diagnosis and we don't know how she would be without the med. It is a crap shoot at best and we can only take the medication we are given. Would something else work better? We don't know but the doctor treats many Alzheimer's patients, we have to put our faith in him for treatment. The pharmacy agreed to sell us 6 pills (3 days worth of meds) while the insurance provider decides what to do.
This is not our first battle with medicine and I am sure it will not be our last. Health care is expensive. Young and old alike need medications as they age, and you must battle every step of the way for what is right for yourself, your mom or your dad.
UPDATE--Meds approved late this afternoon after 6+ phone calls and several hours on the phone. Lord, You take my jumbled up prayers and make total sense of them. Thank you Lord for hearing my plea.
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