Insurance and 'done

[tptptp]

Probably a stupid question I know but if you use insurance to pay for done do you get flagged on your medical records as a junky for life??? I'm assuming so.

[CSiiSEQ]

No you wouldn't. If you were using insurance, it would be because the script was written for pain and the records would reflect that. I've never heard of a done clinic that took insurance, so you're not going to be billing that. Sub OTOH is a different story, you would have the chem dep dx coded with the billing (unless you were taking buprenorphine for pain).

[tptptp]

No you wouldn't. If you were using insurance, it would be because the script was written for pain and the records would reflect that. I've never heard of a done clinic that took insurance, so you're not going to be billing that. Sub OTOH is a different story, you would have the chem dep dx coded with the billing (unless you were taking buprenorphine for pain).

I'm kinda confused, I'm not even sure if my insurance covers it so I'm trying to figure it all out, but I have seen that many do take insurance for sure. For bupe I paid out of poacket for the visits and used insurance for the pills but I dont think its on my record...I have different insurance now anyways. I'm not so worried about a particular insurance provider flagging me, I'm worried about my medical records or a insurance-wide junky list or something. I'm not sure how it works. I know if insurance flags me for good theres no way in hell I'll use it.

By the way, if you're not working is there a decent discount? I'm not working anymore because I'm going to school....looks like I may have to get a job anyways but right now I'm broke as hell. thanks...

[betmylife]

no, insurance doesnt really work like that, you dont have a permenant medical record really.....now what you choose to disclose to your doctor and all that is up to you....say you get treated for 3 diff things at the same doctors office/hospital, then everything is seen....if you go to a new doc bring what records you want him to have....if you just tell him the last place you were going he can get the whole file....anyways, I used to be on bupe, and am now on pain managment.....same insurance company, and have also gone to a private care physican, the pcp didnt know about the bupe, or pain managment cause I didnt tell em.....hope this helps.........


BML

[betmylife]

also, if you get 'done pills, that you would fill at a pharmacy, they are ultra cheap...I would just buy em, like when I get a 40 count of valium my insurance only saves me a few bucks, so I would imagine it to be the same with 'done....if you are talking about a clinic, I dont think ANY methadone clinic takes insurance, I couldnt even find a bupe doctor that took it....later


BML

[tptptp]

no, insurance doesnt really work like that, you dont have a permenant medical record really.....now what you choose to disclose to your doctor and all that is up to you....say you get treated for 3 diff things at the same doctors office/hospital, then everything is seen....if you go to a new doc bring what records you want him to have....if you just tell him the last place you were going he can get the whole file....anyways, I used to be on bupe, and am now on pain managment.....same insurance company, and have also gone to a private care physican, the pcp didnt know about the bupe, or pain managment cause I didnt tell em.....hope this helps.........


BML

Eh? I do indeed have a permanent medical record, heh I know you can attempt to not bring records and all when you go to a new doc but I don't wanna be flagged as a user by ANY doc because at the least word can get around....but I appreciate the help

As for the insurance I'm still trying to figure this out. I do know that some clinics accept private insurance (maybe this is something new with the private clinics - I don't know) and a former MMT patient from the board even suggested it. I'm still wondering if this is a big no-no though.......

Is using my current insurance for MMT (if it covers it) gonna screw me over!?!? someone has to know.

I don't mean the pills, I'm talking about paying to be in the program, I'm not a pain patient.

[RobotJones]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think whether or not a clinic accepts insurance is dependant upon whether or not it's a private clinic or a state-funded clinic. We have both kinds here in st. louis. I've heard that the state-funded one will take Medicaid, and I've even heard rumors about the private one accepting normal (non-Medicaid) insurance. But I'm sure it also depends upon what state/region you live in.

[betmylife]

Eh? I do indeed have a permanent medical record, heh I know you can attempt to not bring records and all when you go to a new doc but I don't wanna be flagged as a user by ANY doc because at the least word can get around....but I appreciate the help

As for the insurance I'm still trying to figure this out. I do know that some clinics accept private insurance (maybe this is something new with the private clinics - I don't know) and a former MMT patient from the board even suggested it. I'm still wondering if this is a big no-no though.......

Is using my current insurance for MMT (if it covers it) gonna screw me over!?!? someone has to know.

I don't mean the pills, I'm talking about paying to be in the program, I'm not a pain patient.



sorry, if you are talking about maintanaince, I wouldnt risk it......isnt it cheap anyways?.......I meant by permanant record that a doc cant type your name into a computer and everything you have ever taken will pop up....anyways, I wouldnt risk going on methadone maintanance with insurance.......unless its really expensive, I used mine for Bupe cause the pills cost almost as much as the damn oxy I was taking.........now, if you do use your insurance for that, you have to consider that most of the time, its some mindless yahoo sitting at a computer that looks this shit up, I dont see how it would really affect you in the future, being as you arnt gonna get prescribed heroin......I doubt they will put 2 and 2 together if say you ever have to get a class II script....like I said, I was on bupe with my insurance and now get class II scripts from the same company.....I dunno if any of this shit helps, I kinda contradicted myself a bunch...Im tired sorry



BML

[zen]

Hawaii has universal healthcare. As far as I know, it is the only state in the USA that has this kind of welfare system. thats why Hawaii's taxes are so high, and there is a massive homeless population.
When I go to the clinic, I see mostly white faces of people who are not from Hawaii. And then I talk to them...
Most of them are from the mainland, and they come to hawaii because they can get free health insurance, that covers thier methadone maintanance for free!!! THATS RIGHT. Free methadone for anyone who dosent have the money for health insurance. I have this insurance, and it is the best insurance in the world. Because I dont have money on record, I never pay a single penny for any of my medical expenses!!!! I have had numerous surgeries, lots of medication, many docotor visitis, and even some of my dental work, all free at the expense of the STATE OF HAWAII!

so why not move to Hawaii? You can shower and sleep on the warm beaches for free, have free dope, free food at the food-welfare centeres that give away every meal, and you have free dental and medical!!!!

Thats why Hawaii has such a fucked up homeless population. But thats also why many junkies who cant afford methadone, come to Hawaii!!

[rachamim18]

CS: You are incorrect. Insurance also pays for MMT whenever applicable and yes, you will of course be flagged. This is common sense. By American law you cannot be discriminated against on this basis but we all should know that in reality that is nothing but nonsense. i have Aetna but have never used it for my American clinics for that reason. In Tamp,Fl. I used to pay 9 dollars a day, and it has risen at least a dollar since those days. In NYC I was fortunate in that I worked at WTC so the state pays all medical needs, regardless of nature and that is for life as it stands today. In Israel, where I was last on it, the govt. pays as we have nationalised medicine and I was put on it in the army.

Bet: While you are correct, they do not keep permanant records they do have a system of flagging as anmyone trying to stage an accident will be able to attest to. They have newletters and such that list persoanlities, as well as internal methods not so obvious. in the short term, while on that insurancxe, they also might discriminate against you in other ways, such as denying payment for other services using the excuse that your addiction is an underlying condition ,etc.

[flipside]

Hey TP , and anyone else

Under the new HIPPA laws there is no way any one will know you are on MMT except your insurance carrier, unless you specifically sign a release for them ( the clinic) to disclose. As the clinics do thier own physicals..no wories with your PCP there.

As for your insurancee

I know for a fact, Dr Hayes, (CAM across from Md General), Awakeninings (Timmonium) and Glenwood life (York rd cross street Woodbourne where York rd almost turns into Greenmount) as well as Bayview ALL take insurance. and have sliding scales if you don't have it/ or your particular insurance does not cover it.

Your benifits for MMT fall under the "mental health" section and have even stricter privacy laws than other records.



If you have Medicad it is definately a covered treatment in your state.



Out of pocked it runs about $10.oo a day for your dose usually paid weekly.

Best of luck tp!

[rachamim18]

Andf yet, regardless of regs, people still find out don't they? It is easy to pass the bubk. In my case it was a union health plan and all too easy a thing to slip out. Some just cannot take the chance.

[prettypoppy]

Hawaii has universal healthcare. As far as I know, it is the only state in the USA that has this kind of welfare system. thats why Hawaii's taxes are so high, and there is a massive homeless population.
When I go to the clinic, I see mostly white faces of people who are not from Hawaii. And then I talk to them...
Most of them are from the mainland, and they come to hawaii because they can get free health insurance, that covers thier methadone maintanance for free!!! THATS RIGHT. Free methadone for anyone who dosent have the money for health insurance. I have this insurance, and it is the best insurance in the world. Because I dont have money on record, I never pay a single penny for any of my medical expenses!!!! I have had numerous surgeries, lots of medication, many docotor visitis, and even some of my dental work, all free at the expense of the STATE OF HAWAII!

so why not move to Hawaii? You can shower and sleep on the warm beaches for free, have free dope, free food at the food-welfare centeres that give away every meal, and you have free dental and medical!!!!

Thats why Hawaii has such a fucked up homeless population. But thats also why many junkies who cant afford methadone, come to Hawaii!!

Zen, this is sort of OT, but I wanted to ask you--would Hawaii pay for things like a Liver transplant for patients without health insurance? Even if they were able to work (and so did not qualify for medicaid)
or were supported by a spouse, but did not have health insurance through an employer?

[_rlpsd.]

a buddy of mine had med records for pain. he found a doc that would rx him painkillers and he told the doctor that he was getting addicted to them so the doc gave him an rx for bup and that didnt work (it was also pricey) so he moved him over to methadone to control his addiction/WD. he takes hi RX to a pharmacy and fills scripts for the methadone. damn, that shit is cheap.

so, he's getting pain mgmt along with a nice buzz.

[rachamim18]

It is actually becoming widely prescribed (relative to before) for chronic pain and pallative care as a whole. Hopefully this will go a long way towards negating alol the negative garbage about the substance. I find it so retarded how correctional facilities feel they can deny it at will. They would not dream of doing it with insuln and diabetics. Perhaps eventually pain management will change the face of all methadone Rx.