Pain Patient Unable To Get A General Practioner!

I live in North Alabama and have been trying to find a local General Practitioner. I am running into the Dr.’s not accepting me when they find out I have a Pain Management Dr. I also have just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and it’s important I get in to a Dr. The Doctors all make you fill out an application to become a patient and they decide if they will accept you, even though they advertise in local papers they are accepting new Patients. I feel so alone and discriminated against.

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Dear blueyes,

Feel terrible for you. Hope you find a GP soon. A gal battling cancer, and I'm sure other issues, should be at the top of the list. So you think because you've been in pain management, you are being discriminated against? I have been avoiding PM for years. For one thing, I hate the oversight. UA's, pill counts, they annoy me greatly, not because I abuse, but it is assumed that without their oversight, I just might abuse. It may come down as a last resort for me, but will hold out as long as I can. Poor thing, you should not be at the back of the bus. Dear Lord, please.....You are probably not alone in your rejection. Many on here will feel a lot of sympathy for your situation. As far as helpful forums go, this is very good. Seems there is always someone in same situation or simply knows much more than I. JMJ

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Wow! I am so very sorry! I've never had to fill out an application to see a doctor, but I live on the west coast, so I guess things are different here.

If you are wanting them to prescribe pain medications, I can see where that would be a problem, but otherwise, I just don't understand this, at all. Usually, it is just that you have these conditions, and you want them to refer you to a specialist that can help. They do need to know what you are taking, and what your medical conditions are, but that should be enough.

Given the diagnosis of breast cancer, have you tried getting in to see an oncologist? If you have the paperwork that shows that diagnosis, you should be able to get in with one, and they can help you find a GP, and other doctors, as needed.

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Re: Verwon (# 2)

Thanks for responding. I tell them straight up I do t need the Dr, to prescribe me pain medication that’s what my Pain Management Dr is for and here in Alabama your GP can no longer write pain medication for longer than 10 days anyway. I do have an Oncologist, but they won’t do referrals for a GP, and I shouldn’t need a referral for a GP. This is why I feel discriminated against. It’s not just me though I have spoken with several people at the Pain Dr and other places, they too are having the identical problems. One of which had his GP to send him a letter stating his GP would no longer be able to see him and have him 30 days in which to find another and during those 30 days would only see him if it were an emergency. There has to be some type of Documentation and Enforcement to deter what these GPS are doing if nothing else is there no ethics violation at the least?

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Re: JMJ (# 1)

Thank you for your response. To answer your question yes I do believe without doubt I’m being discriminated against as are other Pain patients. I agree it’s ridiculous how they automatically assume everyone will abuse their meds so we all are subjected to UA’s and pill counts that is just a couple of the DEA rules I. Their black book.

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Re: Blueeyescryingnbama (# 4)

Blueeyes

You're welcome. No help at all for you, other than sympathy for your situation. Same kind of discrimination toward those on methadone, suboxone, etc. Very unfair. You kidding me? Like these people do not need and deserve medical care? And your "crime"? Pain management.

Gotta wonder, where does this end? Things may have to crash and burn before it can be fixed. They have over corrected the "opioid crisis". May have to get worse before it gets better. Hold on to your seats, may be a rough ride. It already is and many are being ground up and spit out. Left to their own devices, there might be many tragic deaths due to undermedicating. Depression, and despair can be deadly.

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Re: JMJ (# 5)

I completely agree with you. I’m not trying to sound like a spoiled brat, this is something very serious and it like you said will only get worse before if ever it gets better. Politicians get a taste of something and see it can get them votes, not thinking or caring about the people it will hurt or even kill. So many, myself included have fallen into a deeper depression and have read about some who have ended their lives due to politicians claiming to care and be for the people when they are only out for whatever brings the crowds to their feet. I am only one person but if many of us stand together as hard as it would be and bad as we feel it’s going to be necessary to educate those who co tinually over look is. But ty for you responses

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Re: Blueeyescryingnbama (# 6)

Blueeyes, .......and yes to everything YOU say. For what it's worth, I prayed you will get a GP soon. I wish I had more help for you, but I dont. So I just did what I always do. Pray. You and I are peons, little fish in an ocean of beauracracy. Seems maybe, just maybe, your PM doc could give you a referral to a GP. Or your oncologist. Some one should be able to help you. A woman suffering with cancer needs all the help she can get. Best wishes going out to you. JMJ

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Are you on Medicaid or Medicare ONLY without a Medicare supplement policy? If you are then that may be your problem. Many Doctors/ practices have refused these patients because they feel they are not paid enough by patients with only these types of coverages. My Doctor insisted that I have a pain management Doctor. He did not want to write more than a bridge prescription for any type of pain medications. I find it difficult to believe that you are being turned down for care because you have a PM Doctor. Many of the things that are now required of PM clinics like UA's on a regular basis, counting of pills, etc. MAY be required of the PM clinics by State law where you reside. I know that my PM Doctor was required to give me a UA by LAW every three months. I did not have to have a pill count though. As I stated earlier my primary care physician insisted that I go to a pain management office. Sorry you are having problems but every since the reduced payments to the Doctors because of the reducing of payments to Medicaid and Medicare only patients many Doctors just will not accept those patients.

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Re: w john (# 8)

Thank you for your input, to answer your question...no I have Medicare and a private insurance as well.

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Re: Blueeyescryingnbama (# 9)

I have Medicare and a Medicare supplement policy as well. My PCP referred me to a PM clinic. As long as a PCP is not asked to write pain medication prescriptions I cannot understand what their issue may be. My copay to my PCP has never been more than $15 and I have paid it upon every visit. As long as they are getting paid they should not have any objections as long as they are accepting new patients. Has this issue been resolved? I notice it was going on in March 2018.

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