I've had it with Rick and 1st Choice Meds..I need recommendations for new f2f Service

[biancafiore]

[quote=KKtrucking;319440]

Initially I had no problems and then....

First he told me every 6 months with 5 refills mailed every 30 days, which NY State law allows, then he says every 4 months and this guy wanted a F2F, he charged me $275 to get a piss test, the third degree accused of being an illict drug user and shown the door. Ricks solution: offer me a doctor go to in Brooklyn..I'll give old Rick another few days then I'll stop the charge. He forgets what can happen when too many charges get disputed, he could end up looking for Western Union and MoneyGrams. (Personally I think a med. tech was running a scam under the doctors nose and got caught----not my problem though)
Also whenever you ask him anything else, he never responds...he only responds to specific questions and never addresses any other questions or concerns...

@KKtrucking, that sounds similar to me, he told me every 6 months f2f visit, and I've only had 2 phone consults, now, I am nearly out of meds, as my phone consult is due Monday and he told me last night the Dr. wanted me to go in for a f2f.
I have absolutely NO way of getting to that location next week, you know how far it is from manhattan, especially if you don't drive. It's also very far from the train station and in a sketchy area so I couldn't go by myself, I also can't take time off from work in such short notice without risk of losing my job so next week is out of the question.
I know the doctors there are a$$****s and they could possibly be the ones causing this issue, but I don't understand why they couldn't have given me better notice.
Can I ask why they showed you the door after the drug test? Did something show up or not show up?
When I did one when I was there for my 1st f2f they ended up giving me an Rx, I am just curious why they wouldn't have given you an Rx if you went all the way there?
I'm not sure if you can send private messages yet, but if/when you can and want to discuss more details out of public forum, please feel free to send me a message.
I hope it goes ok for you.
Right now I am totally close to being out of meds and freaking out over what to do because I cannot get to the doctor's office next week.
I am hoping Rick can at least ask for a delay until I can get there.
I know suddenly stopping these meds I'm on (tramadol and norco) cause serious bad side effects and I am not looking forward to that...

[KKtrucking]

[quote=biancafiore;319458]

@KKtrucking, that sounds similar to me, he told me every 6 months f2f visit, and I've only had 2 phone consults, now, I am nearly out of meds, as my phone consult is due Monday and he told me last night the Dr. wanted me to go in for a f2f.
I have absolutely NO way of getting to that location next week, you know how far it is from manhattan, especially if you don't drive. It's also very far from the train station and in a sketchy area so I couldn't go by myself, I also can't take time off from work in such short notice without risk of losing my job so next week is out of the question.
I know the doctors there are a$$****s and they could possibly be the ones causing this issue, but I don't understand why they couldn't have given me better notice.
Can I ask why they showed you the door after the drug test? Did something show up or not show up?When I did one when I was there for my 1st f2f they ended up giving me an Rx, I am just curious why they wouldn't have given you an Rx if you went all the way there?
I'm not sure if you can send private messages yet, but if/when you can and want to discuss more details out of public forum, please feel free to send me a message.
I hope it goes ok for you.
Right now I am totally close to being out of meds and freaking out over what to do because I cannot get to the doctor's office next week.
I am hoping Rick can at least ask for a delay until I can get there.
I know suddenly stopping these meds I'm on (tramadol and norco) cause serious bad side effects and I am not looking forward to that...

I took a muscle relaxer 2 days prior, I offered to fax him the scrip which was in fact legit. but he didn't want to hear it, he bla, bla, blaed about some form the state would receive showing it which was B.S.

[biancafiore]

[quote=KKtrucking;320479]

I took a muscle relaxer 2 days prior, I offered to fax him the scrip which was in fact legit. but he didn't want to hear it, he bla, bla, blaed about some form the state would receive showing it which was B.S.

That sucks it doesn't make sense that her wouldn't accept your prescription. That should be illegal. I mean why would that make him drop you?? If the state saw the tests then the state should be able to see your valid prescription. I'm in the waiting room now at this gross doctors office. Did you get any resolution to your situation?

[synthetikal]

@biancafiore, They asked me lots of questions about my prescriptions that I take. They had said that if I was selling them it would be illegal etc. They said the DEA was cracking down on online pharmacies etc. Which I knew anyways, basically they were trying to shake me up and get me to give my source of how I first met the service etc. But I explained to them I was a legit patient they had all my records which were legit and my doctor in town was told about it. They suggested that I inform my surgeon, my priest, my mom, etc. they were just trying to scare me into thinking I was doing something wrong. But I was using the prescriptions for my own use not to sell so they cannot do a thing. How they got my info was because all pharmacies now have to document schedule 2 & 3 meds to a data base and it goes to DEA. So they follow it and I was picked for that month. After that I don't get my prescriptions online anymore so I guess they scared me enough so they got what they wanted.

I think your insurance carrier has a lot to do with getting flagged as opposed to just the pharmacy and the DB. For those with insurance when you go to fill a rx it goes thru your insurance first to validate they will pay etc, if you are getting a med you aren't technically due to have refilled and its high on the control list that will set off a flag that could then also alert the DEA (on top of the pharmacy DB, like a double whammy type deal) Fortunately as long as you are getting different MGs of the same medication insurance never flags it, it only matches meds that are the same MG (they dont know if your MD switched you to a higher dose, lower dose etc) Also can skip all of it and pay cash and give them whatever you want for information (name Joe Blow from Dookie Taster, Iowa) And of course the nice small certain ethnic based pharmacies, whose DB consists of a computer running Win 95 w/ Excel that has two fields, name and amount paid with a RJ 45 cable running into a hole in the wall that goes no where. Unless you are trying to get more then you need or are trying to abuse a med like Fentanyl or Oxymorphone and possibly a slight few others, I wouldn't worry about DEA and whatever, they wouldn't be able to find Dookie Taster, Iowa anyway.

[KKtrucking]

[quote=biancafiore;323366]

That sucks it doesn't make sense that her wouldn't accept your prescription. That should be illegal. I mean why would that make him drop you?? If the state saw the tests then the state should be able to see your valid prescription. I'm in the waiting room now at this gross doctors office. Did you get any resolution to your situation?

Rick has set me up with a Dr. in Brooklyn, great. this will be his last chance, he hasn't confirmed the apt. yet but its Mid Nov. on a Saturday so at least there is less traffic.

[TenaciousE]

Posted in error.

[Waitin]

[quote=KKtrucking;329580]

Rick has set me up with a Dr. in Brooklyn, great. this will be his last chance, he hasn't confirmed the apt. yet but its Mid Nov. on a Saturday so at least there is less traffic.

Over the past few years with these places, I have found that most of the problems have come from the doctor's side. Many simply drop out for whatever reason and then the service companies never get a decent replacement. I have heard much of the BS about how they werre growing and adding more drs every month. Well that has not been the case. If anything the list has gotten very short in the past year. They just don't have many drs left. There may be a few good ones and the drs are now asking for more and more money. It all depends on your location and state. I do think these services are on their last leg.
Rick probably works during the day and only answers emails after 5pm when he gets home. There is no office in my opinion.

KK, I hope your appmt works out next month. The waiting always kills me. Try to hang in there.

[chell55]

I don't understand why some of these doctors don't just take people on as their patients and forget the middle man. If they are going to take a risk on prescribing narcotic pain medication wouldn't it be safer and better for them to just add you as a regular patient?

Is it that they make more money by not spending much time with the patient? In other words they get a payment but do not really spend the time with you. So by just calling you or seeing you now and then they are making more money. I really don't get it.

I hope none of you are left hanging. I know how it feels to be on medication and lose your doctor and no one else wants to prescribe what you are taking. I've been there and now have a very long drive every few months to receive treatment but it is worth it.

Good luck to all of you waiting on this place.

[KKtrucking]

[quote=Waitin;330409]

Over the past few years with these places, I have found that most of the problems have come from the doctor's side. Many simply drop out for whatever reason and then the service companies never get a decent replacement. I have heard much of the BS about how they werre growing and adding more drs every month. Well that has not been the case. If anything the list has gotten very short in the past year. They just don't have many drs left. There may be a few good ones and the drs are now asking for more and more money. It all depends on your location and state. I do think these services are on their last leg.
Rick probably works during the day and only answers emails after 5pm when he gets home. There is no office in my opinion.

KK, I hope your appmt works out next month. The waiting always kills me. Try to hang in there.

I agree the doctor pool is shrinking

[mistressC]

@biancafiore -- I dont think Public transportation goes to that area of NJ It Off I-80 in Warren County

Check with NJ Transit. Call them on the 800 number from the website. I live in NJ. You'd be surprised at how many places you can get to without a car. Sometimes, it involves a transfer, but many places are indeed accessible.

[johnpiersant]

The doctor pool is not shrinking, it is just getting more expensive. Let's see, patent "x" with multiple MRI's etc goes to Dr., can't get a darned thing.

A best selling author who has his own show on the Travel channel and has a SELF documented history of abuse, and regularly jokes about taking this and that ON HIS SHOW.

They both walk into the same Doctor's office. Gee... Who gets the script? "Hey Doc, here is a grand, I am in pain..."

Or am I just too hard on Dr.'s? Like I am too hard on cops, just because I know so many crooked ones?

[mistressC]

"Hey Doc, here is a grand, I am in pain..."

Cynicism, ah yes. But...
How does patient x find a doctor who will accept the grand....is the problem that many of us are having.

[hillie52]

Hi @queentresa I live in Midwest too (WI) can you recommend anuone?

[icu2hiall]

Hello.
I am new to this site and very happy to have found it. I have used Rick at 1st choice. I live in Indianapolis, In. He was not able to get me a f2f here.
Do to the Dr not taking any new patients. I was booked with a Dr in Bellbrook, OH. I was under the impression that after my f2f I would be able to call every 3 months. But the Dr required that I return every 3 months. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive each way. Of course I paid Rick up front $300 each time. At my 2nd visit the Dr told me they were no longer going to use Rick and 1ST choice do to non payments and him sending to many pill shoppers. The Dr said I could continue to see him every 3 months thoe. When it was time for my refills the Drs office called me to set a appt. I called Rick and all he could offer me was to travel all the way to Dallas from Indianapolis. I require morphine er, norcos and valiums to control my pain and anxiety in large amounts do to the lenght if time I have been on them. I of course had to provide all needed records. IE- mris, prior scripts and surgerys. The Dr is caring, and compassionate. I decided to go back to him the 3rd time. Here is my point. I think Rick has become greedy and is not doing his job. He is taking to many pill heads, which is hurting us that really are in 24 hour chronic pain and sending them to good compassionate drs. I feel Rick means well, but between his greed and the issues drs are faceing he is going to lose his customers. I will be happy to provide the Drs name to any one who truly has real pain and the proper records. When I ran out of my valiums the Dr called enough in to last me 10 days until my appt. He also increased my monthly amount when I arrived at my appt and explained why I was having more aniexty attacks than normal. Please if any one knows of a good f2f Dr in Indianapolis who is truly compassionate to pain please let me know. I have not been able to find one. I will continue to use the Dr in Bellbrook, OH untill I find one. The 2 1/2 hour drive is very hard on my neck and back. I wish the Dr was in Indianapolis. He did dicussed with me about getting on suboxone. I told him no and that was it. He was not pushy. He was just doing his job as a Dr. Well thanks for letting me share my experience and please if you know of a Dr in Indianapolis let me know.

[mistressC]

Well, I tried another service: OTN Group with a guy named Mike (or Dr facetoface....he's the 'Rick' from this service). Set up the appointment for $289 and traveled two hours to the doctor office (in my state) just to find that the appointment had been cancelled. When I contacted Mike through email, he called me personally the very next day claiming that my name had come up on the PMP database for "having multiple providers" and that meant the doctor could not prescribe me anything if he/she had seen me.

He at first had me call the doctor office saying that they wouldn't give him any more specific information. So I called and spoke a desk assistant (she said the doctor was not available) and asked about what Mike had said and she read from something in front of her that said that I indeed had multiple providers. I asked what that meant....That I went to a doctor in the past month or so, and another doctor 6 or more months ago? (Because that is the situation). She said no....This would mean multiple providers within 30 days. Strange...not true. I only have one doctor: My PCP. And yes, he had written me a script about two weeks before the appointment. But not "multiple providers". When I asked the desk assistant what a person could do if this database was in error, she had no answer for me, and became rude. "I have no number I can give to you." Okay, I called Mike back.
So, Mike said he'd reschedule me...that he'd explain to the doctor that my PCP had prescribed, but would not prescribe indefinitely, which is why I was coming to the PM in the first place. He spoke extremely well, seemed genuinely concerned about my issues, and promised to follow up. So I let him hold onto my money in the meantime.
Time has gone by and he hasn't followed up much except to say once more that he will contact the doctor to reschedule me. I stopped holding my breath. It started to occur to me: First, only pharmacies enter information into the PMP, not doctors, so what they mean is "multiple prescriptions". Plus, I never gave this guy any personal information about me in order to check any database. No SSN, driver's license, barely any information at all except the MRI report with my DOB. I have a VERY common name, so just the name would not work. Also, doctors are not required by law to check the database, they are simply encouraged to do so....and under no circumstance would a doctor check this and cancel your appointment... It would make more sense to check it beforehand if the doctor was worried about that. None of it sounded like professional business practice....Especially the part about having multiple providers. It sounded like they just took for granted that I did, and used it as a convenient excuse. And then figured I'd be too scared to argue.
I believe this whole particular doctor office in NJ is a total sham. It is the SAME office and woman's name I have run across through other services like this. I have never gotten in there, though. There would always be something that happens at the last minute to stop the appointment. Last time it was because they insisted I get a letter of termination from my doctor, who would not give me any such thing because I was not terminated as a patient. He also said he would not/could not write any document saying he would refuse to treat me (with narcotics or otherwise). So, I was able to get that refund (from Eclinic).

So, I put in the dispute to my card company and I am done with these services. For all this work and aggravation, it would just be better to find someone in my area that takes my insurance. I do have a valid MRI, so I shouldn't have much trouble. Only issue left would be my MJ use, but I hear some doctors are okay with it as long as you're honest.

Appointment set on 15th. I will let you know how it goes.

[Buno]

So sorry to hear about your troubles with First Choice. My husband and myself also had issues with Rick. We were scheduled to go see a doctor 5 hours away in another state. The lead up to the appointment was bizarre and I kept getting mixed messages from the actual location but Rick assured me that everything was set. Got a rental car, hotel room, etc. When we went to see the doctor that morning at an extremely shady looking clinic, he refused to see my husband and instead wanted us to pay an additional $300 to see them that day. He claimed that he didn't work with Rick anymore. Of course, this was all through his flunkies - the doctor didn't have the stones to come out and talk to us directly.

Long story short, my husband was so fed up with this situation that he decided to quit taking pills completely and just treat his pain with MJ. The MJ is why we decided to go through F2F anyways, when his primary could no longer prescribe for him and wanted to refer him to a pain clinic. The MJ is so invaluable for his depression and little aches and pains that he didn't want to stop that completely, plus have to jump through the hoops of getting a few Vicodin a month. Fortunately for him (and this would definitely NOT work for everyone I'm sure), he found that after a few weeks of stopping the pills, his pain became almost more manageable with just the MJ alone than it ever was with the opiates. He also lost weight, so I'm sure that helped. It's been about a year and he refuses to take any pills when he has a bad day, even though we have a small prescribed stash leftover from when his primary could prescribe for him. He said he never wants again to get into the situation of having to rely on these piss test loving "pain" clinics to get the pain relief he needs. I guess I can't blame him.

I think half of the problem with First Choice is that the doctors are as shady as the day is long. I partially blame Rick for pulling the disappearing act when things went south, but I also blame the doctor, who clearly got into the business to take advantage of desperate people. I ended up getting our fee back through disputing with my credit card company but I'll never get back the time and the money I spent to get to there. We ended up having fun on the way there with little road trip stops so it wasn't a completely lost cause.

[alumni]

@mistressC It sounds like your records in the database did show that you had received a prescription for opioids from another doctor within the last 30 days. That's why they check it before seeing a new patient. No surprise there.
Also, if the first visit to a new physician practice involves a typical U/A tox screen, it would be very unusual these days for anyone to be accepted for narcotic pain treatment if the test showed positive for THC. I have been following this issue in states that have either approved Medical Marijuana or recently legalized its possession and, overwhelmingly, pain management practices are still declining or terminating patients who test positive for THC (regardless of how "honestly" the patient discloses its use).
However, this whole issue is an evolving one in the medical community and time will tell how it eventually gets resolved.
Remember that doctors' prescribing protocols are predominately under the purview of the DEA, a federal agency. And federally, marijuana continues to be considered an illegal substance.

[mistressC]

@alumni- I can't understand why or how they could have checked any database before my visit because, as I said, I did not give them any identifying information: No SSN, DL#, DOB...nothing. And I am telling you, my name is as common as Mary Smith, so they would have no way of knowing which one was I. This is why I think they're liars at that particular location in Phillipsburg, NJ and had no intention of seeing me at all. They just used that as an excuse. There is no law or rule that says "no prescriptions issued within 30 days" or anything of the sort. And, as I also said, I have been prescribed to by doctors twice within 30 days several times. That is not illegal at all. The law simply is not written that way and I'm not sure where people got that from. Some people were saying that the main thing is to inform the doctor of the other prescription. Well, I never got in to speak with the doctor, so that can't be what went wrong. There seems to be no legitimate reason to have cancelled me.

But I did get my money back by charge-back. This was almost $300 for a doctor visit that I never received. No problem.