The insurance company wants proof from the doctor each time I call in the prescription...
Our reader Lisa described this problem in the comments section under the article -- The Combination of Aricept and Namenda Helps Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients:
My father is taking Namenda twice a day and aricept at night. However, his insurance company balks each time I try to get the Aricept refilled. First of all, I can only get 20 days worth at a time filled...then the insurance company wants proof from the doctor each time I call in the perscrption--proof that he really needs it and the Namenda together. The doctor makes at least two calls to the insurance company before we get approval...this happens each refill. There was a lag time this last time as my father spent some time in a rehab center after breaking his hip...once home we had 4 days worth of Aricept remaining...but it took a week and a half for approval for the refill...In that time period I noticed an instant change in his behavior, demeanor and comprenhension--within two days of being without the Aricept. It took many calls from the doctor and a few calls from me to the Insurance company--inviting them to take care of my father without the aricept before we got the refill. Now within 3 days, he is back to his kind, loving, cooperative self. I think the combination of these two drugs allow my father to live with me just a little bit longer. what a gift!
What would you do? Advice?
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Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one website on the Internet for news, advice, and insight into Alzheimer's disease. Bob has written more than 950 articles with more than 8,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.
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