Home Monitoring

[dillondog]

Interested in monitoring my Coumadin levels from home as opposed to going to the Coumadin Clinic. Would like to get some feedback on how that is done and what type of devices are being used. Not sure of the procedure to get the doctors to agree to it and for the insurance company to pay for the device and test strips. Please advise.

 

[catwoman]

You have to have your doctor to fill out an Rx form (provided by the vendor). Plus a certificate of medical necessity plus a patient information form. These are provided by the vendor (QAS, Raytel are two that I know of).
Some doctors are very resistant to allowing patients to self-test. I would test those waters first and query your doctor(s).
Then check with your insurance carrier to determine coverage for durable medical equipment (DME). Some insurance companies do not cover INR machines, saying it's more or less a "luxury," that you are certainly able to get to the doctor's office or lab. (Phooey!)
If your carrier does cover INR machines, ask if QAS or Raytel are in network.

You can pursue getting a tester through either of these 2 companies and they will handle all the paperwork for you and finding out how much your insurance company will pay.

Some insurance companies will cover test supplies, some will not.

 

[Bina]

I called a sales rep from Roche and requested a brochure, I then approached my doctor with it and he agreed. It is somewhat similar to a diabetic tester.
check out: www.coaguchek.com

 

[Ross]

http://www.hometestmed.com/anticoagulation.asp

Go from here, choose which meter and then follow the links for the paperwork. You can print it out and take it to your Doctor to finish. It's actually a patient starter packet of things you need to get signed and such.

 

[Philip B]

Monitor

Monitor

Cat and Ross pretty much covered how you go about getting into the home monitor thing. My cardiologist believes in home monitoring, but intitially told me he wouldn't do the Rx thing for six to nine months. He changed his mind when I showed up for an appointment with six fresh puncture wounds from the hospital lab techs. His staff also helped with the insurance company hassles.

-Philip

 

[Karlynn]

He changed his mind when I showed up for an appointment with six fresh puncture wounds from the hospital lab techs.

Did the lab techs end up with any puncture wounds????? (I think I would have been tempted to take the needle and stab them! )

 

[catwoman]

Cat and Ross pretty much covered how you go about getting into the home monitor thing. My cardiologist believes in home monitoring, but intitially told me he wouldn't do the Rx thing for six to nine months. He changed his mind when I showed up for an appointment with six fresh puncture wounds from the hospital lab techs. His staff also helped with the insurance company hassles.

-Philip

Sure you weren't arm-wrestling with rattlesnakes?

 

[Philip B]

Snake Wrestling

Snake Wrestling

Naw, no snake wrestling up here; just a lot of lab techs who don't know how to draw blood. This is one of the big drawbacks to living in a small, rural mountain community...good help is often hard to find. I've actually offered to do the sticks on myself for the techs. Incidently, my veins are rather large and easy to see.

Both my surgeon and cardiologist were upset when they saw what I was going through on a weekly basis. Home monitoring has saved me a lot of misery and stress. A quick finger stick and a drop of blood...what a deal!

-Philip

 

[dillondog]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for all the help! I am printing out the paperwork as we speak. Wish me good luck, lol!

 

[Ross]

If at first you fail, get back on the horse and appeal. Sooner or later they'll cave in.