[Dudeness]

Just started using the True Metrix meter so I ordered some test strips from Amazon for a good price, $16.80/100 but when I opened up the box they say "use only for medicare and medicaid" along the bottom. I've been ordering Truetest strips for over a year from Amazon and this is the first time I have seen this.

Any one else run into this and should I do anything or be concerned? I looked back on previous orders and I have ordered thru this company in the past.

 

[div2live]

I have been using TrueTest for a over a year. I ordered 400 tabs are few weeks ago and had no problems. They did have recall of some tabs, but my new order was not in that lot.

I do not use my insurance to pay for any of my strips as I use so many they would freak....the cost is minimal for the peace of mind I get by following our test protocol....

 

[Bounty]

Test strips that are paid for by Medicare and Medicaid have a band on the box that says 'Use Only For Medicare And Medicaid'. The reason for this is that Medicare/Medicaid has been fighting the resale of their test strips by Medicare/Medicaid patients for years. They get the test strips then sell them to online places that don't care if they're marked 'Not For resale'.

A few years ago, in my state, Medicare started telling pharmacies that they need to check the patients meter to see if the strips were being used before they would authorize a new refill - every month.

All strips, from any strip manufacturer, whether for Medicare/Medicaid or cash across the counter are made the same. The only difference is what's printed on the box.

A word of caution though. When you order from places like Amazon and eBay and they state the expiration date...that that expiration date is on the actual boxes you get in the mail.

 

[Dudeness]

Test strips that are paid for by Medicare and Medicaid have a band on the box that says 'Use Only For Medicare And Medicaid'. The reason for this is that Medicare/Medicaid has been fighting the resale of their test strips by Medicare/Medicaid patients for years. They get the test strips then sell them to online places that don't care if they're marked 'Not For resale'.

Well this does concern me then since this is being done thru Amazon. I think I will contact the seller thru Amazon and ask them for an explanation.

 

[Bounty]

I think I will contact the seller thru Amazon and ask them for an explanation.

I'd be interested in their response...if you get one.

 

[Bounty]

Speaking of this "strip usage verification" for Medicare.

At one time I could just call in to my pharmacy and by the Rx number on my script...order lancets and test strips and have them delivered free without having to talk to anyone in the pharmacy. I was on Lantus and was asked to test 3 times a day.

One day I ordered new strips, lancets, Lipitor and Lisinopril. All that was delivered was the lancets, the Lipitor and the Lisinopril...with an attached note to call the pharmacy.

I called and the pharmacy said that Medicare now wanted the pharmacy to have their Medicare patients bring their meters in and download the strip usage and send it off to Medicare in a file. At the time I was using a Nipro TRUEresult meter. Easy for them to download the information...they had the equipment to do that. That "equipment" consisted of a "docking station" that only this meter uses. I asked them if I could download the information into a document and email it to them to use as proof for Medicare. They mulled that over for a few days, called me and said "yes".

Sooo... I went to Nipro's website, ordered the docking station for $25, downloaded the 640+MB software program from their site...and everything clicked along like a well-oiled machine. I'd go to the TRUEmanager Diabetes Management Program, download 30 days from the meter, save that to a document file and send them the email; call to see if they got it...then place a new strip order.

4 months into this...the pharmacy gets a new manager, the girl I usually talk to to place an order says the new manager wants me to bring in my meter from now on...that she's afraid Medicare might catch onto what I'm doing. WHAT? What I'm doing? I tell her, look...I don't drive. When I go to town to get groceries it's in a cab and that's $20 round trip. In other words...it would cost me $20 a month to come and get my free Medicare test strips. She empathizes, which is cute, but changes nothing.

By this time my diabetes is all but non-existent and I'm testing once a week on Monday mornings to keep a check on it. That's one 50-count vial of strips for 50 weeks. On eBay I can buy a vial of TRUEtest strips for $9.98 - Free Shipping. So, let's do the math: $240 a year for free test strips from Medicare...or $9.98 a year off eBay...plus...I don't have to sit around a pharmacy full of sick people waiting for them to freakin' download my meter and fill my order.

/rant

 

[Taso]

I went to order TrueTest strips and I don't even see them listed on Amazon any more. I know they had a recall, but they have completely disappeared now? Sigh. I have been buying them from Amazon for the entire year and never had a problem. Now I have to figure out how to replace them with something else. ReliOn and OneTouch are just all over the place for me.

 

[Dudeness]

I'd be interested in their response...if you get one.

At least they were quick to reply and is what I expected them to say.

Hello,

Please request for a return authorization if you're not happy with your order and we'll send you a return label and issue you a refund once the product is returned.

Thank you

I hate to sound like a goody two shoes but I am going to return these for my peace of mind. I like to get the best deal I can but I also sleep pretty good and want to keep it that way.

I replied asking if I order thru them again would I receive the same boxes marked 'Use Only For Medicare And Medicaid'. We'll see what they say since they have the best price right now at Amazon. I see deals at ebay but to be honest I'm a little skeptical about ebay and medical supplies.

 

[Dudeness]

I went to order TrueTest strips and I don't even see them listed on Amazon any more. I know they had a recall, but they have completely disappeared now? Sigh. I have been buying them from Amazon for the entire year and never had a problem. Now I have to figure out how to replace them with something else. ReliOn and OneTouch are just all over the place for me.

I really like my Trueresult too that's why when my pharmacist gave me the True Metrix and some strips to try I thought why not.

I haven't used it enough to give a good review yet but I will post my findings after I do. So far it seems to of corrected the lower results the Truetest strips gave me compared to my lab results. My averages are in the 120's compared to 110's.

 

[div2live]

I just did some quick research on TrueTest strips on Amazon. They have replaced Truetest with TRUE Metrix. Below is a copy of what was on Amazon this morning. These new strips are priced about the same as were the Truetest.


Product Description
With TRUE Metrix, Accuracy is confidence. Triple Sense technology automatically detects, analyses and corrects variables in each blood sample to ensure proven accuracy and confidence in results. Stat Comfort Thins/Ultra Sterile Pull-top lancets are meant for single use. Easy pull-off cap and smooth Tri-bevel point ensure a more comfortable experience. *TRUEtest will be discontinued as of June 1st, 2016. TRUEmetrix is the recommended substitute.

 

[Dudeness]

At least they were quick to reply and is what I expected them to say.

Hello,

Please request for a return authorization if you're not happy with your order and we'll send you a return label and issue you a refund once the product is returned.

Thank you

I hate to sound like a goody two shoes but I am going to return these for my peace of mind. I like to get the best deal I can but I also sleep pretty good and want to keep it that way.

I replied asking if I order thru them again would I receive the same boxes marked 'Use Only For Medicare And Medicaid'. We'll see what they say since they have the best price right now at Amazon. I see deals at ebay but to be honest I'm a little skeptical about ebay and medical supplies.

So there reply to asking about future purchases was "Based on what we receive from our vendor". So I'm taking this as a yes it is possible.

So I contacted another seller on Amazon and voiced my concern to them about the medicare/medicaid thing and their reply was:

Good Morning,

The strips we carry are NFR(Not for Retail Sale) boxes, expiration date 08/31/2017.

Very Respectfully

Not for Retail Sale, doesn't this mean they are meant to be given away?

My wife thinks I'm making to big a deal out of all this, and I'm starting to agree.

 

[VeeJay]

Personally, I would just keep them. Chances are you won't be able to get them again in any form since they are now discontinued. Plus, there's always the risk that the new order will contain some from the recall.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

 

[Dudeness]

Let sleeping dogs lie.

That's funny you put it this way, earlier tonight I was talking with the wife about this and she said "what's that you're always telling me, something about poking a bear".

She made me feel better when she told me she's got samples from the doctors office that said similar.