What home testing service do you use?

[almost_hectic]

IF you use a service for home INR testing supplies, who monitors your results. Which company/service do some of you use? If you test at home, buy your own test strips and don't use a service Im not looking for that kind of additional input. But if you have a company who provides you that service, Im curious to know who the company is and how you like them.

 

[starrman]

The company providing the supplies monitors the results and the results are also sent to your cardiologist in my case. You will or do know how to adjust your blood thinner dosage that can be confirmed by either using algorithms or by your monitoring doctor. I have been self monitoring for over 5 years without a major problem. For me it is more convenient plus I test every week (or even more if I want) as compared to each month when I went to the INR clinic at the cardiologist. The monthly cost with insurance was not significantly different. The company who coordinated the supplies, machine and results is MDINR, LLC which is part of Lincare, a Linde company.

 

[almost_hectic]

Thanks starrman, MDINR is one I will look into. I already home test and am completely comfortable with how to do it and such, im just looking for a new company based on my insurance.

 

[Superman]

Real Time Diagnostics is the one I use. They supply my meter, test strips, and lancets. I email my results to them, they forward to the ‘Coumadin Clinic’, then the Clinic calls to verify with me and we discuss what changes, if any, are needed. Usually this is a voicemail or a quick second to confirm my dosing hasn’t changed and to keep doing what I’m doing


It took a bit, but the clinic seems to trust me now and will update my chart with whatever I tell them I’m doing. Being in range 90% of the time and knowing why I’m out of range when that happens has serves to build trust.


Real Time seems to be strictly a supplier and record keeper, which works for me.

I did have a positive clinic experience this week. After throwing my back out and being in a ton of pain, I was prescribed a steroid taper and a muscle relaxer. They called me unsolicited to confirm and we agreed to test early to check for any INR impact. I was planning on that already, but not everyone has 30 plus years experience on Warfarin and a proactive discussion like that can be a lifesaver.

 

[tom in MO]

My meter and supplies comes from Edgepark (BCBS specified provider) based upon my cardiologist's order. My cardio group has a coumadin clinic they want me to use but I didn't because of the cost. I home test and dose, but needed my personal cardio's permission to do this per group practice rules. He met with me and gave me permission; I compared home testing go diabetes management which is similar but more frequent, at least equal in risk but patient-managed. At my yearly checkup I show him my testing and dosing history so he knows I am compliant, in range and not yet incompetent

 

[Keithl]

My PCP let’s me self manage and I bought my own machine and supplies. My cardiologist wanted me to use a service that would have been $120 a month. I run any changes by my PCP, but she knows how I am about my health and I have been seeing her for like 14 years.

 

[Mister_James]

I have Acelis.
https://www.ptinr.com/en/home.html
You call in and report your INR into an automated system. System prompts if you want supplies and they connect you to a live body that puts in an order for you.

They report to my cardio and a nurse calls me to stay the same and test again in 2/3 weeks.

They typically ship 2 boxes of strips at a time. I have not figured how and when they charge but the cost to the insurance company for the year is more than if they allowed me to buy a meter outright.

 

[QuincyRunner]

I also have Acelis Connected Health (formerly Alere Home Monitoring) to whom I report my weekly results and order strips whenever needed using their App. It is very convenient and I don't pay anything. They bill my insurance company, which is an HMO, only $47.12 per month.

 

[krosson62]

My PCP let’s me self manage and I bought my own machine and supplies. My cardiologist wanted me to use a service that would have been $120 a month. I run any changes by my PCP, but she knows how I am about my health and I have been seeing her for like 14 years.

Congrats to your PCP

 

[Mister_James]

Acelis Connect

 

[MdaPA]

IF you use a service for home INR testing supplies, who monitors your results.

Cardiologist office.

Which company/service do some of you use?

BioTel Heart (insurance billed from CardioNet).

If you test at home, buy your own test strips and don't use a service Im not looking for that kind of additional input.

My wife tests and calls her results to BioTel Heart (weekly) and they just turn around and fax results to her Cardiologists' office for INR management. BioTel Heart is just the middleman.

But if you have a company who provides you that service, Im curious to know who the company is and how you like them.

My wife periodically receives new test strips and lancets in the mail based on some schedule. They actually have been oversupplying her with test strips lately (anyone want a box?). They rented her a Coagucheck XS and she has been using that (think at some point she had an issue with one and they sent her a new one). No interaction with the company other than calling in weekly results. Her insurance covers the cost of the "middleman" service and supplies 100%. Her Cardiologist's office does charge about $10/week (insurance picks it up after deductible) for the INR management (they don't call most of the time if she is within range so no charge).

 

[Protimenow]

It seems that this approach works for your wife. I won't suggest that you change what works - especially if you don't mind paying a few extra dollars each week and enriching the 'middle man' who does, it sounds like, little more than sending you supplies and a meter, and maybe? reporting results to her doctor who, it's hoped, knows something about INR management.

For myself, and a lot of others here, I self test and self manage.

I own my meter(s), which I got very affordably over eBay. Your wife already knows how to self test. You might think about comparing the cost of a used meter and purchased strips to the amount being paid to enrich the company that provides you with meter and supplies.

Pellicle and others, including me, can suggest (we really can't advise) dosing and other information that you can choose to use to adjust and maintain INR within range.

(I got my XS meters on eBay, and paid as little as $29 for one that had been 'disabled' by removing the strip guide and battery cover. Roche sent me a strip guide. I didn't ask about a battery cover (but they would probably have sent me one of them, too, if I had asked). Strip prices vary, but usually cost around $5 a strip if you buy more than 24 at a time. )

Owning your meter and strips, and effective self management, can empower you, and make it possible to continue self testing (and management), if your insurance changes, you doctor decides to stop managing your dosing, or something else. (And how much is the doctor charging y our insurance, before deductible, for reading from an outdated dosing matrix)?

 

[MdaPA]

It seems that this approach works for your wife. I won't suggest that you change what works - especially if you don't mind paying a few extra dollars each week and enriching the 'middle man' who does, it sounds like, little more than sending you supplies and a meter, and maybe? reporting results to her doctor who, it's hoped, knows something about INR management.

My wife wants the "luxury" of the service and the support (e.g. they automatically send her the strips/lancets, there's support for the machine if there are ever problems with it, etc.). Her Cardio's office, particularly one of the nurse specialists, is actually really good at managing her INR when adjustments are required. Granted that most of the time she looks through the 7 years of history of her test results and adjustments made she knows what dose change to make, however, she wants the reassurance from a professional. Also, they have proven their worth and justified the extra cost in the several situations she needed to be managing closely while bridging (e.g. off-hour/weekend support via cell #).

If it were my decision, I would want to save a few bucks by managing myself and order supplies from eBay but this is her decision and I support her in that (just like it's her decision to stick with subscribing to big monster cable company for TV instead of cutting the cord and going with lower cost streaming services). We cut corners in our spending in other ways.

 

[Protimenow]

Yes. The luxury, and keeping the wife happy are well worth it.

I've got a similar situation here - although there are equally good mobile phone providers, we still pay about $45 a month more so she can have the feeling that she has AT&T. I dropped that feeling long ago, and pay about $45 or so less for my line (for a while, I was getting service for almost free).

But -- she's happy.

 

[slipkid]

My wife periodically receives new test strips and lancets in the mail based on some schedule. They actually have been oversupplying her with test strips lately (anyone want a box?).

I have enough strips to last me about another 3 months but unfortunately they expire March 31st this year, so yeah I'd buy some from you if you have extras with expiration say May/June or later. Just contact me off-list, name your price....