Can you have insurance approvals for more than one infusion center?

So I had posted last week about having to change location do my infusion center. I’m having some issues with the one my doctor referred me to. The actual local center is fine, but it’s a nation wide chain and their corporate office is awful and still hasn’t even submitted anything to my insurance to get me started. When I spoke to them today they were extremely rude and told me they’re working on it and ended the call.
I’ve found another infusion center near me.
If my doctor also submits a referral to that one can insurance approve both and then I go to whichever gets it completed first? Can there be two referrals at once for two different infusion centers? Does that make sense? Ha ha
I don’t want to use both, I just want to use the one that’s going to get me in on time and use it going forward. I’m just very frustrated at this point because my next infusion is in 3 weeks.

I had a similar experience dealing with the corporate office of a nationwide infusion center chain. Susie is right that once they were out of the picture, everything was fine. Moving forward, I could call or text the nurse there directly to schedule future appointments or with questions and she was always kind and helpful. I don't know the answer to your insurance question.

HaleyA,

I called my insurance company and requested a case worker to call my infusion center. I advised her of my health issues and explained it would be dedtremental to my health if the infusion was delayed. She did call the infusion center and she started the process and worked with them to get it completed in time. I also called them all every other day. Of course the approval person and billing person did not like me and still hold a grudge to this day. (8 years later)With my insurance I don't have to have a doctor's referral for my infusion center and it has been when 8 years.....

But it's an idea....

Hope you get it thru in time!
Clo

No not IVX. It’s called Option Care Infusion.
The girl I have been speaking to at the corporate office is awful and so rude.
I did get to talk to the nurse at the local office today and she was very nice so hopefully it’s just a corporate issue there.

They were able to get me approved today and scheduled for my next infusion. I feel like that’s only because I stayed on them and called daily. My insurance approved it the same day they submitted it but they didn’t even submit it for over a week once they received my referral.

I’ve heard some good things about this center. I think it’s smaller center but they do have a separate rooms for each infusion. Right now I’m just trying to get through the next two infusions wherever I can because I’m getting married and then going on a honeymoon and am due for an infusion before each event so I just want to make sure I can get them haha
After the wedding craziness is over if I dislike this center I’ll definitely check out some others in my area, there’s quite a few actually.

So when I got my iron infusion recently we were all in one big room. And it wasn’t too crowded so it was okay. The chairs were VERY comfortable haha
At my doctors office for Inflectra in the infusion center we didn’t have separate rooms but we had sectioned off areas in a big room. Like big cubicles I guess

HaleyA....Yea!!!! So very glad it was approved. You will enjoy the separate rooms. Staying on top of them daily makes such a difference... Sigh.... But we really shouldn't have to do that. It does teach us how to navigate the healthcare system though...

I thought I was doing really good with my infusions .. I get a separate room for every infusion because it runs over 4 hours once everything is hooked up.... Or else they want Chatty Cathy here in a controlled environment. (I use Chatty Cathy because that was a doll that talked that my parents got me as a child.....a very looong time ago...) plus I bring my own electric heated throw. It's always so cold in there. They give me a little heater but it doesn't warm up the room until right before I am ready to leave..... But hey I have my own room... So I can snore and drool without an audience.

But then I read CcinPa.... And I am jealous!! Heated messaging chairs.... Wow.... Just thinking of all the buttons you get to push and arrange makes me smile.... Gosh, I hope we get some of those!!!

My friend goes to a place that has its own individual room, with it's own thermostat AND a little shared bathroom right there between the 2 rooms.The whole infusion center is like that, 2 rooms with a bathroom between them. She said the chairs are wonderfully comfortable...... I didn't think to ask why..... And you get snacks!

Isn't it sorta funny and yet sad that we notice things like ports, infusion chairs, nurses that are able to hit the vein in the first try???? LOL.

Clo

I guess I’m the minority. My infusion center is on room with 8 chairs. They are 6 feet apart. There’s curtains but no one ever uses them. I kinda like watching what’s going on. I’m not a big talker and since everyone wears masks it’s not so easy to talk across the room or whatever. Usually about half the people are sleeping. I like watching the nurses go back and forth and all that so I think I’d be bored in a room by myself. Plus I like that the nurses are right there if I did need something. But then my infusion time is really short (only 30 minutes). Some of our chairs have the heat but they don’t work anyway. 🤨

So had infusion at new place today. Nurse was very nice, got needle in first try so that’s all great. But other things had me anxious.
They didn’t use a pump, just let it drip so it took a longer time than normal. At the end I had to physically get out of my chair and drag the pole down the hall to let the nurse know it was finished. There’s no pump to beep and they don’t set timers. Thought that was pretty strange.
They also wanted me to stay for an hour after for observation but I declined because I’ve had this infusion many times before. Are these two things normal? To not use a pump and to want you stay a whole hour for observation?

Post Edited (HaleyA) : 4/14/2023 8:47:42 AM (GMT-8)

Is the medication supposed to be titrated over a certain amount of time? At my last center they had the pump set to where it started out very slow and then gradually sped up and was fast at the end of the infusion. This place just had it at the same speed the entire time

No, it's not normal to use a pump or not check on you. I have never had to stay after any infusion. When I went to Option Care years ago for Entyvio that didn't use a pump. A 30 minute infusion took over 2 hours! I hated that place and hope I am not forced to go there again. Can you ask them to use a pump next time? Or find a different place?

She kept coming back and adjusting the speed on the filter on the tubing. It took about 3 hours. They definitely had a pump because it was on the pole but she told me it was normal to not use one. I’ve never had an infusion without a pump before this. I may call my doctor and see if they can put it in the orders to use the pump. It was just strange and the fact that I had to get up to tell her it was finished.

I don't remember ever having to wait after an infusion except maybe my very first time ever getting Remicade? But if I did wait, it wasn't very long. Maybe 15 minutes. Mine always had a timer that beeped both when finished and at intervals when they'd check my blood pressure and other vitals. I'd ask your GI about all of this if you're concerned. Kinda crappy customer care for them to make you get up and drag a pole to tell them you are finished.