Once u have a CGM, no need to document 4 sticks per day!
AAMOF, once u get onto the G6, Medicare won’t even pay for strips.
Dave, you and I are on the G5 Dexcom direct monthly Medicare subscription program for now and we continue to get our strips included in our monthly package. We keep hearing about Medicare not paying for strips for G6 users. Are there any patients currently on the monthly Medicare Dexcom Direct subscription program getting the G6 without the ability to get strips included in their package? Not asking about Medicare patients getting their Dexcom supplies through a pharmacy or other 3rd party. Only patients on the Dexcom direct monthly subscription program.
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I’m also curious about that same scenario.
I am on Medicare and 3 months ago I started with Dexcom G5 and Tandem T-slim X2. (Medicare was not supporting the G6 when I started.) My G5 transmitter expired on Nov. 8 and I have no replacements. Dexcom did not call or email me when they did not send the supplies for November.) My endo tried to submit a prescription for a G6 through Walgreens on Nov. 1. Walgreens called and said it would be at least 2 weeks depending how fast the doctor responds to more paper work.
I wouldn’t be surprised if I am required to take another c-peptide test to prove I am still T1 insulin deficient. Medicare required a c-peptide when I started on Medicare in 2017 and again last August to change from Medtronic to Tandem!
There is a hang up somewhere and I feel like I got kicked to the curb. I have spent a lot of time making lots of phone calls but that does not seem to help. Now I don’t have a G5 or a G6 and my prescription for test strips was previously reduced because I had the G5. I don’t know where I will get test strips in the future.
Fortunately I was able to schedule an endo appointment next week with a new endo. I hope he will be able to get me back on track. In the mean time I have enough insulin and pump supplies.
I always like to stockpile. So I have restarted the G6 sensors and have a nice back up. But I was worried about the transmitter, I did reset one but it only had about 10 days left on it. I got my doctor to write another prescription and paid $144 through Costco, no insurance, to have one as a back up. I am really attached to my CGM and do not want to be without. I just make sure to use the oldest one first and date them so I know.
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How long will a G5 or G6 transmitter work after the expiration date?
And you bought an extra G6 transmitter at Costco?
I don’t know why your strips have gotten reduced. I’ve been getting 300 per month along with my G5 supplies, although thanks to the accuracy of the G5 I’ve not been opting lately to have Dexcom send more than a small portion of my allotment. It’s up to your doctor to take care of the Rx for you so that you get what you need. Otherwise, there is a standard amount of 150 strips per month if u get supplies directly from Dexcom. But I get double that because my testing logs support a larger amount (at least they USED to. LOL!). I’m not going to be requesting any large amount in the future unless the G6 turns out to be a lemon.
I thought I didn’t need as many test strips with the G5. So I told the endo he could reduce the prescription. That was before Dexcom stopped the shipments. I have enough for now, but it is a bit stressful when the system breaks down. I just checked my patient portal and the Dexcom G6 transmitter and G6 sensors were added and the G5 sensor and transmitter was deleted. So the endo thinks the prescriptions were filled and they were not. I did call the office and left a message- one of my many phone calls. It will work out. Thanks Dave.
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@Marypat Yes I got an extra one. I just had the doctor write a prescription for them as I told her I wanted a back up one. I usually get them with insurance through a pharmacy mail order. Early on I had a faulty transmitter, it didn’t sit well in the sensor so Dexcom sent me a new one supposedly 2 day air, but they didn’t even send it for 4 days. Luckily I got it working.
I realized that I always wanted one as a back up. But yes Costco is $144 without insurance. I do have a Costco card and belong to their free membership Rx plan. Costco is weird they will tell you a different price up front, but you get a cheaper price after they process it to sell to you. Because of the way they do it, you just turn it down at the point of purchase if you don’t like the price, they are used to it.
I don’t know how long they are good after expiration, the ones I have been getting always have at least 6 months plus still to go, this last one I just got expires July/2020.
That’s a bit curious because Medicare still “requires” pump users to test 4x/day.
Of course, I just bit the bullet years ago when I was still on private insurance and self-funded my test-strips. Today, I get 100 strips/month for $30, which is overkill on the G6.
A CGM user is tested 288 times per day.
My transmitter will run its course in about 3 weeks. The Dex rep who called me for my supplies order said it will be 3-5 months before I will get G6. He sent me a new G5 transmitter.
I had decided that once Dex sent me the G6 I would stay on the G5 as long as I could to let me build up G6 supply inventory. To do that I would need to buy a G5 transmitter out-of-pocket. Went to Walgreens and was quoted $995 for a transmitter. Nope!
What is the transmitter’s cash price direct from Dexcom?
You may find a good cash price at Costco.
My endo was the one who confirmed this for Medicare patients and Dexcom would not send me supplies without that specifically being stated in his notes! I also thought it was crazy; but I have several emails to back this up.
I have been on Dexcom for two years, now and have never heard of this requirement until about two months ago. My endo confirmed this was the new requirement for Medicare patients. I have never used a pump, however; but that shouldn’t make a difference…
I’m confused. I thought the testing comments were in regards to getting pump supplies, rather than Dexcom supplies. Can u clarify what u meant?
I am just wondering what do the notes exactly have to say? Reason I ask is I am concerned if my endo should suddenly go out of network at some time in the future and all I have is my primary.
If that happens I would like to be prepared and provide the specifics on what he needs to say in his own notes assuming of course dexcom accepts notes from primary doctors and not just endo ones.
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