Help For 100% Disabled Vet - Is Dr. Pinnamaneni Ethical or Morale?
 

Help! I' assisting a 100% disabled veteran in The Villages who has been on a significant pain medication for several years. His Dr. at Lady Lake Pain And Spine Centers of Florida (Dr. Pinnamaneni) won't take the time to do a simple "pre-authorization" which lowers the price by over $200 per month. Publix Pharmacy recently contacted the Dr. and asked twice. This veteran drove to the practice twice this week to ask the receptionist for help - and was promised swift action. The Dr's office has been called three times this week by me - and no response.

I checked with the insurance company - and the story get's worse! The insurance company (Blue Cross Federal) shared two things: 1) they personally put in a request to the Dr. for the preauthorization - and got no response and 2) it would also cost less if the Dr. provided a 90 day refill - but won't, because he bills more money by requiring the patient to come in once a month for a new 30 day prescription - and has been doing that for years. Ethical? Morale? You be the judge.

As a result, the prescription has cost this vet over $500 this year - which he frankly doesn't have! Because of the financial situation - he has been in pain for several days - until I found out about it.

Two requests to consider: 1) Recommendations for a new Pain Doctor to help a 100% disabled vet - with very little money? 2) Please tell friends and family to write to Dr. Pinnamaneni and ask WHY he would leave a war hero in both physical and financial unnecessary pain!!!

If the person is 100% disabled providing it is a disability caused by his military service to his country he should qualify for VA benefits prescriptions are included in his benefits.

wow, sounds like an awful situation. 1st thing that comes to mind is he needs a new Dr. For the short-term, maybe a walk-in clinic might help him get the pills he needs now. are you able to get a used bottle of his meds with name & info on it? bring it with him to the appt. if he has medicare, i think there's no charge, if he's insurance free, visit is about $120. i hope you get this worked out, there's many good pain dr.'s here, pls keep us updated

Thanks. His injuries are from the war. Lucky to be alive - he was a "tunnel rat" in Vietnam (most I'm told came home in a body bag). I'll call around for pain Drs on Monday. A few I called Friday are not taking new patients. Any recommendations in the meantime? THANKS!

Good grief! Take him to the VA here in the Villages. They will take care of him. Done!!!

Oh come on.
70 percent disability rating: $1,529.95 per month. 80 percent disability rating: $1,778.43 per month. 90 percent disability rating: $1,998.52 per month. 100 percent disability rating: $3,332.06 per month.

Unfortunately - the VA sent him to THIS doctor!

If he has VA coverage and they referred him to an outside doctor , the VA should pay all charges. I have a disabled relative (not 100%) who has been referred to private local doctors for specialty care.

Google it for rules/restrictions

Thanks for suggestions

I read this a few times. Helpful? Cruel? Sarcastic? Bored? Missing the point? Educated - or not? But - they can. I'll assume just naive?

Thanks

I don't understand. Why is he n to going to the VA? There is an outpatient clinic in the villages, there is a new clinic in Ocala, and the is Malcom Randell VA hospital (one of the best in the country) in Gainesville.

Unless there is a good reason to not go there, the hospital is Gainesville is better than any civilian healthcare around.

My understanding from him - was that the VA sent him to this specialist. I'll check. Sometimes - this person can be confused. He's had a tough life.

Due to the opioid problem the government has placed restrictions on what pain meds you can have based on your ailment and limits on how many pills you can get at one time. My wife takes pain meds for her rheumatoid arthritis and has had the strength of the meds reduced and the number she can get at one time. It's not the doctor requiring the patient to come back monthly for another prescription so they can make more money. If the doctor's office isn't doing what they are requested to do and what they are required to do, the VA needs to be notified about the situation. Maybe this doctor needs to be taken off their provider list.

This vet should be able to get his pain meds filled by the VA pharmacy at no expense to him. He is also able to obtain prescriptions from Express Scripts who mail the meds directly to his mailing address. There is a small co-pay but it is very reasonable. A meeting with a VA rep should provide all the answers to your questions.

I feel you are not really taking care of this vet or you would have had him at the VA facility in the Villages. Your story sounds awfully fishy.