What am i going to do? Department of public welfware won't pay for caths anymore!

[mr_coffee]

I just talked to my distrubtor, blackburns and they told me they are no longer going to cover any of the intermitentend cathertors (with a bag) or my single use self caths. I don't use a cath that stays in me all day either. I am screwed because I cath 8+ a day due to the large amount of fluids I drink, and i can't just cut down on what I drink because then I get constipated real fast we found out. I was getting 180 straight caths a month, because I got it approved by the doctor that I did need that many to last a month. I also get 180 portable caths a month because I'm going to school (which also got approved by my docotor/medical assistance). But now the department of public welfare isn't going to pay for anything! They said the government passed a bill or somthing whorish. There is no way i can dish out 900+ a month. Anyone know what i can do? Thanks.

[Le Todd]

No f-ing way! How do they expect you to relieve yourself?

[ginamarie]

My husband only gets 6 straight caths per month for intermittant cathing. He just reuses them. You could use them at school as well. When we are out of the house, he has a small bag that he always carries with the catheter in a clean brown bag or envelope (as they taught at Shepherd), wipes, lubricant, and extender tube to connect to catheter and run into toilet. He cleans everything at the sink and off he goes. Why do you need a new one every time? Hope that helps.

[-scott-]

I purchase my own out-of-pocket, cycle through 5-7 per week, wash & reuse.

$28ish for a box of 30 (14fr Mentor straight caths) from sportaid.com.

[Sh0rty]

900 plus a month? Where are you shopping?

[metronycguy]

can you fight it? run it up the ladder? in the meantime get them from the places you can afford. ask them to mail you or show you the new law that says they don't pay for intermittent caths, there may only be some extra paperwork from the doctor

[mr_coffee]

Thanks everyone, Sh0rty, 180 bagged caths, at 5.95 each = 1071 per month. When you are talking about reusable ones, are they just regular cathertors that you wash? Or are they special kinds?
Scott, how long can that box of 30 last you? Howl ong will you use 1 cath (wash and reuse) before throwing out?
Metron, I will ask blackburns to send me the "note" they recieved. Anyone else on welfare dealing with this problem? I live in PA

[keps]

Reading Mr-Coffee's post makes me glad I live in England, where anyone doing intermittent caths is provided with single use caths free, and with no suggestion that they should be reused.

[mr_coffee]

Yeah i know, good ol' USA! weee!! I havn't had a UTI at all since i've done my cathing msyelf, but if i'm going to have to resuse these bad boys i'm sure a UTI will be a brewin'.

[cali]

i live in PA too. my mom actually works for the department of welfare. i asked her about it and she said they don't pay for very much, i'm on my mom's insurance so that's how mine get paid. i get 200 caths a month.

she also said that there should be hell to pay if you have to re-use caths and get constant utis as a result. what kind of hell, i dunno.

i had to re-use caths at first when i got home and i got utis left and right so i use sterile caths now.