Great News for those on Medicare who have an Indiana Pouch

Just moving this helpful link up chronologically......P

Melodie...show your insurance company this printout and your uro/surgeon or whomever...www.idsociety.org/newsArticle.aspx?id=11012
The insurance companies should all follow suit. The only thing you have to do is provide a letter from your surgeon or uro stating how many catheters a week you require (don't ask me why the week number..thats just what my medical supplier told me) They will allow up to 200 a month which is pretty good.
Pat

Very interesting...so if Medicare will allow so many, one would think that those of us on regular insurance would also be able to receive more. I'll have to question my doctor in May. When I was first shown how to cath, the hospital only gave me 5 and I thought, gee whiz, are these like gold or what? Since I had to cath every 2 hours for the first month, they really got a good workout. My insurance provides 10 a month. I'm used to washing and drying mine and apparently I'm doing OK so far but it would be nice to have more. I have now a collection of maybe 70 used ones, and quite frankly, sometimes its tough to tell the old ones from the new. But I don't like to toss them just in case a rubber shortage comes on us. Melodie

Hi Patricia `

I remember you said that you had to fight for your disposable caths. I see that one coming. My doctor already said that there is no reason to have them.

Geesh - maybe with this good news he will be more receptive??

Best,
Gracie

I was just informed by my pharmacy that Medicare has changed their policy on catheters for medicare patients who have an Indiana Pouch. They will now pay for 200 a month which should do away with having to wash and re-use. You will need a statement from your doctor to the pharmacy or supplier how many catheters you need a day (don't ask me why the day number...??)... Gee..it only took me 3 yrs of protest for them to finally figure out that an Indiana Pouch is an internal pouch. So Hooray....Pat