Dear Editor,
I found out from my doctor that as of the first of 2026 Medicare patients must have pre-approval for many things that did not have to be approved ever before. I need an approval to get an injection in my shoulder. A friend needs approval or a blood test. So, I went online and looked up “Medicare Pre-Approval.”
Was I ever surprised. Apparently, Arizona is one of five states that this pre-approval is being tested on. All are “red” states. If it goes well, it will go nationwide. It is being done as a way to cut costs! Seems to me it will cost more to check out things that a doctor has already said is necessary. I am still waiting for approval three weeks after it was requested and my friend, who the doctors suspect has cancer, is still waiting to get her blood test.
We all need to call or email or senators and tell them to stop this test. People will die because tests were delayed all in the name of possible cost cuts.
Sandee Samoska
