I have had to pay out of pocket for a pain doctor and Rx because of Kaiser's unfair and illegal rules. Hopefully things will change soon.
I have experienced this myself. There is hope for those in California at least. It's a start.
The legislation has been there for years now and Kaiser says it's case by case but not what anyone I know has experienced. It's like a brick wall with little or no compassion.
I was declared PPD in 2001 by my spine surgeon at the time and a QME doctor certified it and it was recorded. I saw a private pain doctor successfully and over time was using 180 MME a day for several years and working 40-50 hours a week. After going into remission from MIBC at Kaiser, they dropped my pain meds because of THC, which they never should have done because of my PPD status and CA State law says THC cannot be a factor in their Rx.
Now, back at same private pain doctor he is afraid to exceed DEA's 90 MME even after trying patches and many nerve meds, etc.
I know I'm preaching to the choir here. Should being "PPD" status allow my doctor some leeway? Or does going over the 90 MME bring government looking into his practice? It doesn't help me to get the doctor in trouble. I have detailed history.