A Real Rock and a Hard Place

[Guest guest]

Lots of us have to undergo urine tests at our pain doctors. That's

okay with me in theory, but the practice now has me between a rock and

a hard place!

My pain doctor insists on using a lab for analyzing the tests that is

not " approved " by my insurance. My insurance is now refusing to pay

for the tests, and I'm being billed nearly $700 to cover just one

test! And my doctor wants to be able to do these at his whim, as much

as once a month? I can't pay that!

I've told the doctor's office that this is impossible. They refuse to

change labs. The insurance refuses to pay a non-approved vendor. If I

refuse to pay, I'll lose my credit. If I refuse to take the tests in

the future, I'll lose my pain treatment.

What's really strange is that the insurance has paid for them before

without even questioning it. But now they say that those payments were

a " mistake " and now that they've noticed it they refuse to do so now or

in the future. I'm being billed right now for the test I took in

January, and they're counting it as 60 days out. I don't have much

longer to deal with this before they start siccing the collection

agency on me. I'm trying to argue with my insurance that since they

paid it in the past they have to pay it now, and that I'm not

responsible for the choice of lab my doctor uses, but they keep

refusing my appeals.

I can't give up this pain doc - he's the only one out of dozens I've

seen who has been willing to treat my pain. But I can't afford $700

once, let alone every single month, just to prove I'm not selling my

pain meds.

I don't see a solution. Does anyone else?

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

I am with you. If they paid the lab in the past, they should continue to pay

them. I don't think it's fair for them to do that! I am so sorry you are

having to deal with this! I undergo urine tests at my primary doctor's whim.

My insurance doesn't want to cover my pain doctor's requests for urine tests,

but they don't mind if I get them done on base at the clinic since it's

military.

I am so sorry this has happened! I wish I knew the solution for the

situation. I hope and pray that this all gets worked out so you don't have to

suffer in any way!

Love,

Becky in SD

Cheryl in AZ wrote:

My pain doctor insists on using a lab for analyzing the tests that is

not " approved " by my insurance.

What's really strange is that the insurance has paid for them before

without even questioning it. But now they say that those payments were

a " mistake " and now that they've noticed it they refuse to do so now or

in the future.

I don't see a solution. Does anyone else?

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Cheryl in AZ,

Will your insurance not pay a deducted amount to an out of Network Lab? How

often does your pain clinic do the random urine test? I know at my pain clinic

they only do them once a year unless they suspect something. Maybe that is the

pattern your pain clinic will follow even though they tell you they may do one

at anytime.

If they turn it over to collections just pay what you can per month. But before

that, try to talk to accounting at the doctor's office and see if you can set up

some kind of payments.

Have you talked to your doctor and explained him your situation?

Hope things turn out good for you!

Marsha (TN)