I an fighting this tooth and nail. Dr Berwick is now in charge of Medicare. Maybe he’ll understand and help us out.
I have filed my second round of appeals to medicare. As stated months ago, the research I have done shows archaic and ridiculous regulations- such as any pump other than a designated one with a certain code is deemed to be medically unnecessary. No questions, no discussions and no reasoning.
if you have any imput, let us know.
I received a call the other Evening from Senator Whitehouses Washington Office. I was told Dr Berwick had received my letter about the Code Numbers on yhe Omni Pod. I understand that he has received quite a few letters and is working on Medicare Coverage for the Omni Pod Pump. We should know by sometime in June.
Jean:
I have also been told that Berwick is looking at the issue but no one knows what the decision will be.
I urge all those affected by medicare’s irrational lack of coverage to write to Dr. berwick,
CMS
Hubert H Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue SW
Room 445-G
Washington DC 20201.
If you can assist by informing about the contents of your letter, I believe it will help those interested in writing…
I know Omnipod is trying its best to get this done.
I am now in the appeal process before the Administrative Law Judge.
I know it is probably fruitless, but I will push the litigation end until CMS covers this product.
Look forward to your update
Dear Rich,
I want to thank you for your continued help in fighting the Medicare issue. I can only hope the unfairness of Medicares refusal to accept Omnipod pumps will be resolved in the near future.
I hate to say but medicare is 100% RIGHT. THE OMNIPOD IS A VERY UNRELIABLE, DANGEROUS, FULL OF SUFFERING PIECE OF S**T. I have been in keto acidosis 30 times for failing pods THAT DON’T ALARM! Fidelis care does not cover the omnipod because of multiple hospitalizations for multiple patients. Many doctors stopped prescribing it. my doc sees 3,000 patients. 50 of them are on the pod. she said she know 4 that like it. IT IS UNSAFE UNRELIABLE AND A DANGER!!
TRY TO AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS!
personal suffering proof,
ella
What you have to do is petition the Congress to change the code numbers on the omni pod the code numbers that are assigned render the Omni Pod a disposable item. The congress has to change the code numbers to make the Omni Pod a durable item. I do not know what the durable code numbers are.
Contact the Congressperson in your area to recquest the change,have family and friends contact them with the same recquest.
I’ve been working on this for over a year. I was interviewed on a local tv station trying to gather support. If you call a local station and ask the to allow you to appear on an interview to talk about the Omni Pod Insulin Pump it might help.
That is interesting because Medicaid covers the Pods. There are several younger people on here on Medicaid. I would have thought they would have similar policies.
So, if Jean thinks communication with Dr. Berwick in Washington DC would help; why don’t we all start writing and contacting officials. I thought the pod would be covered by Medicare. I will graduate to that status next year. Thanks for the info. I’d best get started with some alternative plans immediately. I’ve only been on the pod for a year now, and have no life threatening complaints. I currently have United Healthcare and the POD is covered by that policy.
Iv seen the PDM treated as a DME device which you “rent”… Medicare likes having things that can be revoked and saw someone/somewhere they got pods with basically the PDM as the revokable item…I still dont know how they pulled it off
After working for 22 years I was found disabled due to severe neuropothy in my legs and feet.
At the time HIP was my primary and medicare was my secondary.
My Dr. put me on Omnipod and DexCom 7 due to my inabliltiy to sense low blood sugars at night.
I received a call last week that Medicare has been changed to my primary and because of that, HIP will no longer cover me for the OmniPod Pods or the Dexcom Sensors....
I now have to go on the Animas Ping because of Medicare and they will not cover DexCom.
I am livid, shocked and appaulled that this is monopoly of Medicare is allowed to get a way with this.
I plan on contacting my representatives and reach out to all political parties to make this change in coding for OmniPod and to get the CGM Dexcom covered.
I am an outraged tax paying Citizen and Change must be made.