Ways to Organize Special Medical Documents -

Going through a recent “battle” with insurance to get my son’s Dexcom Transmitter made me realize that I need a better way to organize special medical documents! You see we had a PA ( prior authorization) with a medical supply company that will no longer supply any Dexcom items for Eldest. The insurance said the medical supply company is supposed to honor the PA like a contract but they won’t.

I have been battling for almost two months to find a new medical supplier and now waiting for a PA from insurance. It’s been a tough two months for Eldest battling ketones and blood glucose levels higher and lower than normal. Riley has had some rough nights having to set extra alarms to check to be sure Eldest’s BG’s don’t suddenly plummet. If they are low for bedtime then carbs must be administered and another alarm set which means another finger prick-poo!

Digital Organization for Special Medical Documents

It just occurred to me that I should not have to try and find special medical documents like prior authorizations, denials, and approval letters. I can keep these organized by scanning them and saving them in Google Drive. I will no longer have to worry about finding a document to prove he is eligible for services or if we do end up at the doctors without paper in hand we could even bring up insurance information on our phones!

I cannot believe that I just thought of this idea since I organize our homeschool resources and blog resources this way. I never bought into paperless organization when I heard about it a couple years ago. This just might be the best way to stay “armed for battle” if we face another insurance denial.

Keeping Copies of Prescriptions Digitally

We do not get very many paper prescriptions but we should keep a copy of those digitally as well to help us organize them. Most of Eldest’s Type 1 Diabetes supplies are filled via mail order but a couple prescriptions are filled at Walmart. I usually just scan the barcode off the prescription for refills.

Some items are removed from the packaging that has the barcode and are hard to keep track of. I think I will place these on a sheet of paper and scan them into Google Drive as well. Then I will need to check and see if the Walmart app will read the scanned barcode from Google Drive off our phones. Next would be to set reminders in Google Calendar to re-order prescriptions at the local pharmacy. I have the mail order supplier set-up to call me each month to order all the prescriptions through them. This was not offered but something that I requested after battling with them a few times and almost running out of test strips.

Communicate via Fax or Email

I have made way too many phone calls between the Endo, medical supplier and insurance that I don’t have evidence of. I do not know how to personally record a phone call so the next best thing would be to get information via fax or email so you have proof in case of an insurance denial or if you need to get a State Hearing. You can read about what steps to take if your insurance denies your prior authorization.

What about you do you need to organize special medical documents? Maybe you have special care instructions for a child or parent. Those should be scanned and saved so that each caregiver can be sent a copy and you don’t have to worry about coffee or kool-aid spilling on them.