Got results from bloodword back and I'm not sure what to make of it

[tlow2013]

I was put on depo-test shots .5CC of 200MG every week. Took my shot Friday and had my blood draw on Tuesday morning and my Total T came back at 616. Doesn't that seem low? he didn't do free T. This is worrying me that I may not be in the best care. plus I really not feeling any better!

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Call us and we will get you on the right track!

 

[tlow2013]

Call us and we will get you on the right track!

I would love to but I need to go a route that uses my insurance!

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Are you sure about that? Getting your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on your insurance is like telling them you have an incurable disease, that will always need to be treated. Not the best idea if you ask me. It will cost you more money in the long run to do it that way.

 

[tlow2013]

Are you sure about that? Getting your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on your insurance is like telling them you have an incurable disease, that will always need to be treated. Not the best idea if you ask me. It will cost you more money in the long run to do it that way.

Everything is being covered now, I just think my doctor isn't looking at the big picture, but I could be wrong. Just wondering if that seemed like a low number only a couple days after my injection.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I know its being covered, my point was you shouldn't cover your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on your insurance..............

 

[1693]

I was put on depo-test shots .5CC of 200MG every week. Took my shot Friday and had my blood draw on Tuesday morning and my Total T came back at 616. Doesn't that seem low? he didn't do free T. This is worrying me that I may not be in the best care. plus I really not feeling any better!

If it was me I'd probably want to try 125mg per week and see how I feel and where my TT is.

 

[Megatron28]

How do you feel at the beginning of the week compared to the end of the week? If you notice a difference you may want to increase your dose and try splitting your injections.

I wouldn't worry about your free T at this point so much. That's a lot of money to keep testing that -- unless your insurance picks up the cost. If your out-of-pocket is low then go ahead and get it tested. You should pay attention to your estradiol though. Definitely get that lab test.

 

[tlow2013]

I'm going to give it a little bit of time I'm not even 3 weeks in since I started the every week shot. Friday will be my 3 week mark and I see my doctor on Wednesday for a check up. I appreciate the replies, I think I'm being one of those impatient Noobs!!!!

 

[hardpr]

I know its being covered, my point was you shouldn't cover your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on your insurance..............

why?? thats a bold statement

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

why?? thats a bold statement

I know, but I can stand by cause I have seen it with my own eyes. Getting your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), especially injectable, covered under your insurance is a big mistake.

With the changes going on in medical billing, with the new IDC-10 codes, and the ARRA, the whole idea of the new EMR / EHR is to keep a more accurate record of your patient health history. Medical practices are currently receiving incentive money form the government by participating in whats called "meaningful use".

Meaningful use is a requirement of receiving these incentives from the government. So what medical facilities have to do in order earn the money is ask patients things like do you smoke and keep accurate track record of your BMI.

So why is the government pushing for this? Because premiums are now being based on your health status and now the insurance companies have a nice and convenient way of tracking all the meds your on and your patient history.

So why does this matter to you? Now that all employers are required to offer insurance and pay for it, those rates will be calculated on the patient history and status of the employee's health. This is why so many corporations are implementing wellness programs in order to get the employee's back in shape, so their premiums will go down, and their overhead goes down.

So if joe has a high BMI and has fatty liver and Bob is on a specialty injectable medication that has been shown to increase HH more than the cream (because of unreliable controls in studies) what do you think they will score on the premium adjustment?

How will that affect your value as an employee for the company?

There are others scenarios this is just one of the many.

Now everyone will scream "they can't fire for poor health", your employer can find a reason to fire you, wether its the real reason or not is another question.

This is why so many are in an uproar over how they will keep insurance billable services separate from cash pay services. See if you pay cash for your services no one is allowed to disclose those services to the insurance companies. Here is an article about the omnibus rule http://www.steroidology.com/forum/testosterone-replacement-therapy/645289-your-doc-will-have-trouble-keeping-your-cash-pay-services-off-your-record.html

So even if you pay cash for your medical services, most physicians and practices will have a really hard time keeping it separate. This is why it is important to find someone that uses a separate EHR/EMR for cash pay services.

Others will say "that hasn't happened to me" well all this stuff is in transition right now, and pretty soon you will see it popping up more and more.

Why anyone would want such a controversial treatment in their medical record is beyond me.

Hope this answers your questions.

 

[tlow2013]

I know, but I can stand by cause I have seen it with my own eyes. Getting your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), especially injectable, covered under your insurance is a big mistake.

With the changes going on in medical billing, with the new IDC-10 codes, and the ARRA, the whole idea of the new EMR / EHR is to keep a more accurate record of your patient health history. Medical practices are currently receiving incentive money form the government by participating in whats called "meaningful use".

Meaningful use is a requirement of receiving these incentives from the government. So what medical facilities have to do in order earn the money is ask patients things like do you smoke and keep accurate track record of your BMI.

So why is the government pushing for this? Because premiums are now being based on your health status and now the insurance companies have a nice and convenient way of tracking all the meds your on and your patient history.

So why does this matter to you? Now that all employers are required to offer insurance and pay for it, those rates will be calculated on the patient history and status of the employee's health. This is why so many corporations are implementing wellness programs in order to get the employee's back in shape, so their premiums will go down, and their overhead goes down.

So if joe has a high BMI and has fatty liver and Bob is on a specialty injectable medication that has been shown to increase HH more than the cream (because of unreliable controls in studies) what do you think they will score on the premium adjustment?

How will that affect your value as an employee for the company?

There are others scenarios this is just one of the many.

Now everyone will scream "they can't fire for poor health", your employer can find a reason to fire you, wether its the real reason or not is another question.

This is why so many are in an uproar over how they will keep insurance billable services separate from cash pay services. See if you pay cash for your services no one is allowed to disclose those services to the insurance companies. Here is an article about the omnibus rule steroidology.com/forum/testosterone-replacement-therapy/645289-your-doc-will-have-trouble-keeping-your-cash-pay-services-off-your-record.html

So even if you pay cash for your medical services, most physicians and practices will have a really hard time keeping it separate. This is why it is important to find someone that uses a separate EHR/EMR for cash pay services.

Others will say "that hasn't happened to me" well all this stuff is in transition right now, and pretty soon you will see it popping up more and more.

Why anyone would want such a controversial treatment in their medical record is beyond me.

Hope this answers your questions.

It' very simple, I do not have a couple hundred dollars to pay each month to not go through my insurance! I'll take my chances.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Hey man I understand, you do not see the value in a good testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program because you most likely have never really got dialed in.

I have heard a lot of people say they do not have the $180 a month it takes to do a simple testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program.

It never carries much weight with me because I have been at this for a while a now.

One guy I know said the same thing, he was an introvert, very soft spoken and felt miserable about himself. When you feel like this it radiates off you and negative things happen when your in a negative mood, or you feel like crap. So you don't get the same opportunities as the Alpha who feels great about himself.

This same guy calls me 6 months later, no longer introvert, got a 60% raise at his job and opened his own business.

So when people tell me they can not afford it, my answer is you can not afford not to do it.

 

[tlow2013]

I get it dude but I don't have that kind of money I have a household to support. I appreciate the sales pitch though!

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

We don't do sales pitch's bro. This is reality. People with no experience do sales pitch. I was just looking out for you, IMT has more business than they know what to do with So they do not need to give a "pitch"

Good luck though

 

[tlow2013]

I appreciate it, if I feel like I've hit a wall and am not receiving the medical care that I should, I most definitely will be in touch. I'm in the infancy of my treatment and want to give it some time before I take more costly measures!

 

[Jaxxin]

Hey Det, that seems like good reasoning why to keep testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) off of your insurance. I have a question though, say the doc runs tests on me and sees slightly higher than normal test levels or they ask me and I lie, and they somehow find out, is that considered fraud?

Just want to protect my ass for later. I'm with IMT and haven't told any of my other doctors shit, but I never go for anything more than a cold. If it was something serious, I wonder if I should tell them. I believe if you tell the doc, they are required to inform your insurance company, is that right?

Just wondering if it is possible to let the doc know so he can have all the info to best treat me, but make sure that shit doesn't get back to the insurance company.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

I don't think it would be fraud, but maybe your doc has some kind of disclosure agreement. I think even if it went to court the new rules would blow it out of the water, keep in mind I am not a lawyer

Here is the ruling:

New rule protects patient privacy, secures health information
Enhanced standards improve privacy protections and security safeguards for consumer health data

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) moved forward today to strengthen the privacy and security protections for health information established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

The final omnibus rule greatly enhances a patients privacy protections, provides individuals new rights to their health information, and strengthens the governments ability to enforce the law.

Much has changed in health care since HIPAA was enacted over fifteen years ago, said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The new rule will help protect patient privacy and safeguard patients health information in an ever expanding digital age.

The changes in the final rulemaking provide the public with increased protection and control of personal health information. The HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules have focused on health care providers, health plans and other entities that process health insurance claims. The changes announced today expand many of the requirements to business associates of these entities that receive protected health information, such as contractors and subcontractors. Some of the largest breaches reported to HHS have involved business associates. Penalties are increased for noncompliance based on the level of negligence with a maximum penalty of $1.5 million per violation. The changes also strengthen the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Breach Notification requirements by clarifying when breaches of unsecured hea lth information must be reported to HHS.

Individual rights are expanded in important ways. Patients can ask for a copy of their electronic medical record in an electronic form. When individuals pay by cash they can instruct their provider not to share information about their treatment with their health plan. The final omnibus rule sets new limits on how information is used and disclosed for marketing and fundraising purposes and prohibits the sale of an individuals health information without their permission.

This final omnibus rule marks the most sweeping changes to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules since they were first implemented, said HHS Office for Civil Rights Director Leon Rodriguez. These changes not only greatly enhance a patients privacy rights and protections, but also strengthen the ability of my office to vigorously enforce the HIPAA privacy and security protections, regardless of whether the information is being held by a health plan, a health care provider, or one of their business associates.

The final rule also reduces burden by streamlining individuals ability to authorize the use of their health information for research purposes. The rule makes it easier for parents and others to give permission to share proof of a childs immunization with a school and gives covered entities and business associates up to one year after the 180-day compliance date to modify contracts to comply with the rule.

The final omnibus rule is based on statutory changes under the HITECH Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) which clarifies that genetic information is protected under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and prohibits most health plans from using or disclosing genetic information for underwriting purposes.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/01/20130117b.html

Its not so much about your doctor, you can tell him, but now you can tell him he can not disclose to insurance companies. Basically the Dr is not obligated to share that info with any health provider, and can be penalized if he does without your say so, if your medical services were paid in cash.

When I say cash, I mean not insurance.

Besides, just open an HRA and get causality insurance if you don't go to doc much.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

The problem is docs that use one record keeping system can easily disclose info on accident.

Lets say suzy gets a request for patient record, authorized by patient, suzy was suppose to fax just one record but she faxes the whole file cause she is new......... happens everyday

This is one of the main reasons IMT does cash only network.

 

[Jaxxin]

Cool that is good news. Yeah I'd still be wary but at least I know they shouldn't disclose it if it is a serious issue and I think the doc should know.