I have United Healthcare Group Medicare Advantage Insurance PPO and have been totally and permanently disabled and on disability since 2006. I have been taking pain meds, muscle relaxers, and a pain patch Brand Name Lidoderm 5% since then. Last year I had BCBS ins. and tried to get the brand but was offered a generic brand so I said sure...less cost right? However, the generic brand Rite Aid gave me was a disaster and did not work. I have my Dr. trying to get the Brand approved this year, but no success yet. In the meantime, I called Endo Pharmaceuticals and told them the problem I had with the generic brand and they admitted that they have had many complaints for the same company/patches. The girl suggested I ask my pharmacist to try and get the Qualitest generic brand, as it works. I called the pharmacist and he stated he could get one made for Qualitest by a Japanese company, but it requires a prior authorization as well. I am afraid to call my doctor's office again because the head nurse you have to deal with, not the dr. has called me and told me if the last appeal did not come through they are finished with it! That was not my dr's words, but you have to go through her to get to the dr. I don't want to make a scene and risk getting kicked out all together. Also, there are only two Pain Management Specialists in Columbus, Georgia, where I live and they both work in conjunction with each other, in that they will not see the other one's patient! Any good ideas for helping me. I have called my Governor, the President, and everyone that has any thing to do with this sort of thing. I have been told they will help me, but so far I am out of patches, pacing the floor at night, until I am exhausted, and cannot think of anyone else to contact ,that I haven't already contacted.