Integr8 Health, Medicare and Dispensaries

I just moved (back) to Maine and can't even manage to find a GP who will take me in. Since I've been here, I've been to the ED twice (8/27 and 8/30) for an insane crazy migraine. I decided to call Integr8 Health to see if Dr Sulak would see me and possibly give me a recommendation.

I got a call from them today wanting to schedule an appointment but saying they need the money up front ($200 because I make such a small amount with SSI/SSDI and getting Medicare taken out). So I'm waiting until I have a few reviews on the medical practise and what not.

So, does anyone have any first-hand experiences with Integr8? Has anyone had success billing Medicare for the appointment? (The page says they don't bill directly but that the patient can submit the bill to Medicare)

Thanks for the help if you did, in fact, help.

xx

Ive used them, nice people.

The doctor I saw spent more time with me than my regular doc would over the course of multiple visits. She also ended up helping me with some of my issues better than my regular doctor. I would recommend them.

It kind of a drawn out process. I saw the doc had to wait fir my regular doc to send my medical records, then got a phone call and had my registration mailed to me. If possible have medical records with you when you go or have them faxed over in advance.

I actually have to call them. I got an email and voicemail telling me I have to make an appointment soon in order to keep my doctor/patient relationship under the law. I had no idea I has to see them every 6 months, I thought my rec. was good for a year

I have also gone through them. Really great people. If you have a condition they can give u recomandation for and it has been documented with another doctor for atleast six months, you should have no problems. I dont know about migraines though. If you dont have six months of documents, you might have to be a patient of theres for six months first. I had all my documents and stuff together and I had my rec within a week and a half. I have a broken back, spondilosis of my lower spine and a ruptured disc which could be the reason it when so quick for me. Good luck though!

Hey ITW, you only have to see them at the six month mark the first year. After that its once a year.....

Medicare, Mainecare, won't pay for your visit......

Yeah, it sounded like they might do a more holistic approach (which I'm down for as long as I can afford it) and don't just either throw one drug after another at you that you've already tried or pass you off to someone else right away.
I'm going to have to ask them about their pricing to find out what's included in the appointment.
Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate the feedback.

Luckily, I have the majority of my medical records (at least the pertinent ones) in a folder because I had to bring them all to the Mayo Clinic like that. I just have to get the past two years of records from my neurologist's office.
And I think I've got the six month rule covered - my migraines started 16 years ago. I'm not even sure about my chronic pain but it's been there a long time.

Migraines constitute chronic pain themselves. I've been hearing good things about Drs. Speigel and Phillips in the Portland area. I'm told both are less expensive than Sulak.

Thanks for the extra names, Brookies. It actually sounds like Dr Spiegel might be someone I would be able to use for more than one condition (psychiatric med management) so that's super bonus points. And possibly more likely a place that accept Medicare.
I'm happy I've found a forum where there are people with actual medical conditions who need the medicinal properties and aren't just big stoners. It took me about a month and I was a little wary at first ... cos, you know, rollitup.org doesn't really strike me as a medicinal use network name
xx

nothing wrong with stoners!!

Didn't say there was - but people who don't have legit medical conditions, get scripts, and just smoke weed all day take some legitimacy away from the use of marijuana as a medicine in the eyes of the public. But I'm all for it being 100% legal.

I highly recommend Integr8 Health. I checked them all out. They are the most knowledge on how to use cannabis. They go deeper and helped me find more ways to manage my chronic pain. If you are going to spend 100's of dollar, I think getting 1 hour of better recommendations than my crappy doctor which really have helped me is so much more valuable. Plus I have saved so much in the amount I use - because of them, which has saved me money.

All my friends say they have the strongest certifications. I would not risk it with a fly by night...

Actually, the site itself is not primarily a medical mj forum. There are huge forums on grow techniques, diy, etc. Lucky for us the admins made some medical subforums for states that have it, but it isn't really the main topic of the site.

You are correct, sir. And I am very thankful to them for making said sub-forums as the majority of sites I come across are badly formatted, only about getting stoned, and populated by people who seem to have trouble using their keyboards. And even when you find a site that's actually supposed to be a medical orientated site, you end up with people asking how to shoot up the oxy they just got. Legally. Through their doctor.

Well, I already know how to use cannabis (ha!) but I'm now apparently shit outta luck as I just got a letter from Social Security saying I will no longer be getting SSI ($221/mo) because my "income is too high". The result of working for two days and making $40 before having an allergic reaction to a medication and having to essentially forfeit my job. The former employer won't verify my employment so I can get MaineCare to cover what the $169 I pay per month in Medicare premiums won't pay because she's a cunt.
I have spent $200 on pharmaceuticals since moving here - I have already been in the ED twice for migraine (which seem to have possibly ceased - I'm crossing my fingers) and had to go to 3 different doctors because of bronchitis that has lasted for two weeks so far and in the past has taken 3 months to get over. Supposedly, I am able to work while on Disability but this recent letter is making me think otherwise. Without working, I don't have enough money to cover my anything, and I have an interview tomorrow. So things are looking decidedly bleak even though I get calls every other day from integr8 health telling me I'm the next patient on their list - I don't have enough money to drive there, let alone make an appointment.
However, as far as the cannabis use goes, the only time I use it is at night to sleep. I have essentially done the same thing for the past six years. One bowl lasts me a week (which is simply ridiculous) so it's not as if I need much. But I want to figure out how to make edibles with it and potentially sell those to dispensaries. Anyway, that's far more information than you need, but another positive review for them is good and appreciated. It's nice to know they also help you understand other ways to treat your pain - I need a doc like that because nobody gives a damn any more. It's either they throw drugs at you or try to put you in rehab for being on pain meds.

suzystabalot said:

Supposedly, I am able to work while on Disability but this recent letter is making me think otherwise.

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You can definitely work while on SSDI. At my last job we had a part-time office manager who was supplementing her SSDI payments.

I've got it figured out now ... I've had SSI taken away from me because I'm not paying "rent" (as I am living at my father's house for a few months, trying to save money for an apartment). But the money I got from SSI payments ($221/month - hardly enough to cover an actual rent payment) has gone to transferring all my legal things to the state of Maine (Driver's license, car title, etc) - not to mention having to pay for prescriptions that otherwise would have been covered by Medicaid in my former state (as MainCare takes about 2 months to make their decision and Medicare, for whatever reason, doesn't cover certain psych meds) and food.
At least one of my medication brands has changed and it'll likely chase me back to the land of anorexic side effects so I won't have to buy food. And a couple weeks' worth of work at a Halloween store might net me enough money to cover whatever SS takes from my checks. Never mind the MMJ right now, I don't have enough money for a $1.10 copay on my oxycodone, let alone $300 to see one of the doctors who will give me a script for something that's not awful! I love our Government. xx

Gotta love this government, all they care about is the almighty dollar!

Maine Brookies said:

Migraines constitute chronic pain themselves. I've been hearing good things about Drs. Speigel and Phillips in the Portland area. I'm told both are less expensive than Sulak.

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I have an appt. w/Phillips, he wants $250. I have thousands of pages (probably 500 w/me) of records, which ones do they want? Also, I'm more interested in the aspects of the dispensaries. Can we use any site in Maine? What are prices like? Are there edibles or just seeds? Etc.

As far as I know Phillips requires no paperwork. That might of changed in the past couple months. IMO dispensaries are a total joke here. Not going to get in to why I feel that way, but im sure they have a waiting list that you need to get on asap if that is the route you choose to go. Look into getting a caregiver..MaineBookies is looking for a patient...no? Dude grows fire

budwich said:

As far as I know Phillips requires no paperwork. That might of changed in the past couple months. IMO dispensaries are a total joke here. Not going to get in to why I feel that way, but im sure they have a waiting list that you need to get on asap if that is the route you choose to go. Look into getting a caregiver..MaineBookies is looking for a patient...no? Dude grows fire

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Phillips wants (or at least asks for) paperwork, which is fine, as long as I know what to bring; I suppose I can call them. If I have a card, do I "need" the dispensary or can I go through my usual? Can I still get MMJ grade? I'll look into MaineBookies, I guess .... can I friend you?