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Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 09:24 PM Aug 2013

Has anyone endured long waiting periods for referrals in Texan Plus for needed care?

My friend was injured in France, got medical care there, returned to the US, went to her primary care provider and has been unable to get a referral for a wheel chair, podiatrist, or orthopedic, and home health care after five days.

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cry baby

(6,775 posts)
1. I worked in Tennessee in a primary care dr ofc doing referrals a few years ago.
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 09:43 PM
Aug 2013

Both of the doctors I worked for felt very strongly in favor of accepting Medicaid. In trying to find specialists for my patients that were on the Tn medicaid program, I found very few specialists that accepted the state program. The few that accepted it were booked up for a long time because there were only a few drs for many patients. Therefore, very often there was a delay in getting the referral through.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
2. In her case there is not much action by the primary care office staff, she has rented a wheel chair
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 10:30 PM
Aug 2013

on her own and when we checked with the enhanced medicare provider four days later there was not a request for a wheel chair. She has a broken left leg and ankle and a broken bone in right foot which needs care.

cry baby

(6,775 posts)
4. That's sad. It is probably human error by the referral nurse...or maybe the delay
Thu Aug 8, 2013, 01:17 PM
Aug 2013

is on purpose...or possibly the referral nurse thinks people on Medicaid just don't matter enough for him/her to go to the trouble of just getting the referral done. Lots of people think that way. Unfortunately, I talked to several offices that the staff seemed to be "put out" in trying to help people on Medicaid. That attitude frustrated me to no end, but there were so few providers that accepted Medicaid, I had to work with them. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent my patients to them as I believe they may have encountered disrespect at these offices.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
5. We have gotten some results but without help of a primary care office help, but you are right,
Thu Aug 8, 2013, 01:41 PM
Aug 2013

this is where the problem lies. She is actually on Medicare with an advantage plan, when I have heard so much about the long waiting lines in the UK, Canada and France, guess what, I found the lines right here in the USA and it is not the fault of Obamacare since she is on Medicare. BTW, she had care as soon she went to the dr in France she received immediate care.

cry baby

(6,775 posts)
6. I hope she is going to be ok. I watched "Sicko" just a couple of days ago.
Thu Aug 8, 2013, 01:55 PM
Aug 2013

Certainly is eye opening that in countries with universal healthcare the average lifespan is longer than here in the US.

I've always believed that when Alan Grayson said the repubs want sick people to die quickly, he was telling the truth. Sick people in the 99% just cost too much money to take care of.

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