One of my more passive aggressive patients saw me yesterday for a general medication review. For the second straight year her Medicare Part D plan has changed (she's not of traditional Medicare age, she's been on disability for a number of years for god knows what). During this process of a medication review six of her fourteen chronic meds were either not on formulary for her new plan or would require prior authorization. While a couple of these were legitimately necessary meds that she should continue, most of them were more of what I would put in the lifestyle category--allergy meds and various creams.
I attempted to explain to her that she would likely not be able to get all of these covered and that my staff and I only had the resources to do so much here. Even though we had essentially the same conversation last year, she played ignorant to the workings of the health care system and said she just couldn't understand why she couldn't get all of the medications that she "needs."
While I attempted to explain that there was life before designer antihistamines and people managed to get by, I have a feeling that I'm going to have the same conversation with her next year.
I attempted to explain to her that she would likely not be able to get all of these covered and that my staff and I only had the resources to do so much here. Even though we had essentially the same conversation last year, she played ignorant to the workings of the health care system and said she just couldn't understand why she couldn't get all of the medications that she "needs."
While I attempted to explain that there was life before designer antihistamines and people managed to get by, I have a feeling that I'm going to have the same conversation with her next year.
The Country Doctor