More on the Gtube

So after lots of conversations yesterday with lots of people (GI, Pediatrician, Supply Company owner, Insurance, our Senator), we are still at a standstill on the Mic Key Buttons. Because of the change in coding through Medicare, ALL buttons are now only reimbursed at 30 some dollars each (they cost $110 each). I was told this is a country-wide thing and it went into effect last Monday. Even though our private insurance is the first payee for us, we still aren't able to get them because of this change - insurance bases their reimbursement rate on the government PICS (not sure if that is the exact name of it) code . Kimberly Clark, the main manufacturer of the buttons is working with the government to get the coding changed but it could take months. In the meantime, if I need a new one I have to go to the emergency room or get one from the GI clinic because of a "emergency gtube failure". Crazy, isn't it? I called our Senator to let him know how much this impacts our life. Hopefully the more people that call their Senators, the quicker this problem gets resolved.