TULSA, Oklahoma (KJRH) — Steve Satterwhite is a resourceful guy.
He became blind due to a rare genetic condition known as retinitis pigmentosa. However, this hasn't prevented him from residing in his own apartment in east Tulsa, which is adorned with memorabilia from the Kansas City Chiefs.
When the clinic that typically provides his COPD and heart medications informed him that they were unable to fulfill his prescriptions due to his residence in Little Rock, Arkansas, he felt bewildered.
He informed 2 News that he has never resided at that location, having lived in the same apartment for the last 8 years and consistently used the same clinic for his prescriptions since 2017.
He mentioned that when he reached out to Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services, instead of receiving assistance, he was simply transferred from one person to another or left waiting on hold.
"I spoke with one individual, and I typically have to wait around 40 to 45 minutes," he remarked. "Then, if I'm transferred to someone else, the wait can range from 20 minutes to as long as an hour."
Each time, he found himself beginning from scratch, explaining to the newcomer the reasons behind his request for assistance.
In a moment of exasperation, he reached out to the Problem Solvers, who in turn contacted OKDHS. Our representative quickly initiated an investigation and uncovered the issue with the prescriptions. It appears that the problem is probably not with their system, but rather with his Medicare or the private insurance that covers the remaining costs not paid by Medicare.
The DHS Aging team is stepping in to assist Satterwhite by linking him with the right individuals to resolve his situation. Additionally, we've put him in touch with Life Senior Services, which has specialists available to help navigate and clarify the often complex Medicare system.
