What will be the ramifications of being dropped by my pain management doctor...HELP

[sumdumguy]

Long story short, my back pain doctor dropped me because of non-compliance with my pain contract. I won?t go in to the details because I?m not sure it matters in this case or if anyone really cares about it. Suffice it to say, I was managing my pain levels. I was NOT abusing recreationally. Not that the doctor sees any difference.


So I?ve been really worried about the repercussions from being dropped. I?m not worried about my pain level, I?ll figure that out. What I?m most concerned about is my insurance. My wife texted me a this morning a picture of a bill saying that our insurance didn?t pay for her visit to the doctor 2 weeks ago for a sinus infection. Our family doctor is part of the same health group as my back doctor (Texas Health Speacialist Group). So I call the number on the bill and while I?m on hold I start worrying so much that I?m shaking. I?m thinking that THSG will no longer accept my insurance because of MY mistake. So the lady tells me that it was denied because the service occurred after the termination date and that I would need to call the insurance company. So now I?m REALLY freaking out. I call the insurance company and after awhile of pulling stuff up in the system, there is no mention of me getting dropped by my doctor. Just that it appears they didn?t receive the premium payment from my employer. She reprocessed the claim and it went through and all we owed was her $30 deductible.


So, my question is, do I need to continue to worry that, I or my wife and kids will not be able to get medical care in the future? Other than myself with this one doctor of course. Is my insurance in jeopardy of being dropped? Will this get back to my family doctor and they drop me as well? I just don?t know what can or will be done to me ? legally speaking. Can any doctor legally deny me care? I?m so worried about this. I have an appointment with a rheumatologist in June and I don?t want this to screw things up if it turns out I really do have Ankylosing Spondylitis.

 

[EPL1]

Hi SDG,


I'm sorry, I can't answer your questions about continuity of care, as it seems things are done differently where you are.


I did want to stop by to tell you that I am also a chronic pain patient rx'd long term medication,

and I understand the stress of dealing with all these doctors when you're not feeling 100. I know it can be very challenging.


I hope things work out for you and that someone else on here can answer your questions.

You have my support though,and if you ever need anything feel free to pm me.


Hugs,
your friend in chronic pain,
Ash.

 

[aihfl]

I've never heard of a case where insurance coverage was terminated by being dropped by a doctor. And the only way your chart can be shared with another healthcare provider, under HIPAA rules, is a written, signed, request from you.

 

[sumdumguy]

Thank you. I appreciate your support. Long story short, as I’m now learning since being dropped that my pain is not as severe as I once thought. I am now of the belief that the hydro was actually CAUSING my pain to be at the level where I needed pain meds. It was a nasty negative feedback loop. I did some investigating and as it turns out, there is evidence that supports the theory that opioids can lower ones pain tolerance. Thereby making them more dependent on the drug. Maybe I would have found this out sooner if it wasn’t for these opioid contracts that MAKE YOU take the meds even if you don’t think you need them. I would have rather my doctor tell me that we would try an approach where I’m on one month, off one month. On one month off two months. That sort of thing. But I think he was convinced from the beginning that I was just looking for cheap hydro. It’s absolutely disgusting how they treat pain patients.

 

[sumdumguy]

I've never heard of a case where insurance coverage was terminated by being dropped by a doctor. And the only way your chart can be shared with another healthcare provider, under HIPAA rules, is a written, signed, request from you.

Thank you for your reply. This is good news. What if my doctor says they won’t treat me unless I have my records transferred to them?

 

[cj]

Thank you for your reply. This is good news. What if my doctor says they won?t treat me unless I have my records transferred to them?

Then your kinda screwed. I've never played the pain management game but from everything I've heard it's rigged against the patient.

This thread is already on the line of how to drug seek. I know that's not your intention OP and I'm not saying your drug seeking. It's just that getting around pain contracts and navigating the system to get opiates is going to naturally evolve into that discussion. I almost went there myself and I'm a mod. You got your question answered so I'm going to close this.