Vitamin D - Medicare Restrictions

[MaggieRedwings]

Thought I would post this for any of us that are interested in or using vitamin D and use medicare. It is from John Cannell, M.D. - Vitamin D Council. I subscribe to their newsletter.

Dear Readers:
Medicare is up to it again, again trying to put dangerous restrictions on Vitamin D testing. Although the proposed guidelines for reimbursement are not as restrictive as Medicare's recent proposal, this proposal is restrictive none the less and, within a few months, will be adopted by your insurance company and every major insurance company in the country. Here is Medicare's new proposal:
http://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com ... 30273.html
Measurement of vitamin D levels would only be indicated for patients with:
• chronic kidney disease stage III or greater
• cancer
• cirrhosis
• diabetes
• fibromyalgia
• granuloma forming diseases
• hypocalcemia
• hypercalcemia
• hypovitaminosis D
• long term use of anticonvulsants or glucocorticoids
• malabsorption states
• obstructive jaundice
• osteoporosis (unresponsive to therapy)
• osteomalacia
• osteosclerosis
• psoriasis
• rickets
• vitamin D deficiency on replacement therapy; to monitor the efficacy of treatment
It would forbid screening, the most important use of the test. That is, hypovitaminosis D is covered but your doctor can't order the test to find out if you suffer from low Vitamin D in the first place.
You can send your comments via the Internet using the link below. For using the link below for your comments, this proposal's LCD number is DL30273. The name of the proposal is "Vitamin D Assay Testing."
http://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com ... ments.html
If you'd rather send a letter, which is better, sent it to:

Ms. Anna Gene Risoldi
Senior Research Analyst
Highmark Medicare Services
1800 Center Street, 1AL3
Camp Hill, PA 17089

May I also ask that you send an email with your comments to Dr. Daniel B. Kimball, Jr., drdankimball@gmail.com> He's on the AMA board that reviews this policy.

John Cannell, MD
The Vitamin D Council
585 Leff Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

[tex]

Maggie,

That really sucks, doesn't it. It almost seems as though it could be part of a government conspiracy to ensure that most people will have compromised health, in order to guarantee maximum future profitability for all of the medical institutions, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, etc. Everybody wins, except the consumer, (as usual).



Thanks for posting that. If that is Medicare's policy, you can bet that all the other insurance companies will follow suit, as the article suggests. It appears that the most practical solution may be what I'm doing now - just take enough of it to be certain that we have enough, and don't worry about any risk of overdose.

Love,
Tex

[Gloria]

This is another example of why I don't want nationalized health care and am concerned about going on Medicare. Why should the government decide what treatment I can or can't have?

Gloria

[tex]

Why should the government decide what treatment I can or can't have?

I'm sure the bureaucrats would argue that they have the right to decide, because the government is paying for the treatment. Of course, they totally ignore the fact that it is not only your money that is being used to pay for the treatment, but it is your money that is being used to pay their salaries, while they decide to deny you your benefits. Such a deal!

Tex

[barbaranoela]

adding my comments to this piece!! !! ---and turning this country into Socialized Medicine (as Canada) is another piece of

I know what my friend and her hubby had to go thru --while they both suffered with Cancer--the stories Joan told me brought me to tears!!

This country is falling deeper and deeper into a big mess--

My friends daughter and her hubby worked for GM and now they are out on their ass!!!

Sorry--but I am NOT happy with the way things are going---

Barbara

[starfire]

I'd like to add my disgust with gov't control of most anything to this thread including our healthcare.

Love, Shirley