From: Herbert Stein [mailto:fabrik@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 2:27 PM
To: Chet Burrell, President & CEO CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Cc: Madam Secretary Kathleen Sebelius - HHS; Jonathan Blum, Deputy Administrator and Director for the Center of Medicare at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Amy Larrick, Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid; Stephen J. Hemsley - CEO, United Healthcare
Subject: Once again another life hangs in the balance...
Dear Mr. Burrell,
Apparently you and your company are also unaware of a recent informal decision rendered by CMS to insure that all VNS Therapy depression patients implanted on or before May 4, 2007, the date CMS rendered a determination to not cover VNS Therapy for the depression indication, would receive medical care, replacement and/or explant. CMS egregiously, immorally, unconscionably and/or by oversight or stupidity rendered that 2007 decision without grandfathering care for these volunteer study subjects and patients now implanted with a medical device.
In their more recent decision CMS conscionably is trying to rectify this oversight as they’ve come to learn that those patients wishing to continue with the therapy are long-term responders obtaining efficacy over multiple years and from the standpoint of economics saving considerable sums of monies for the government (Medicare/Medicaid) as these patients no longer require very costly multiple-yearly hospitalizations, numerous doctor visits and exorbitant sums of money for ineffective and refractory psychotropic medications and other therapies.
To which I also add that in all likelihood your company is discriminating and in violation of the intent of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA).
More specifically, I am a very, very long-time mental health advocate and activist for my spouse and others and currently advocating on behalf of one of your subscribers.
Kimberly Elizabeth Meek
618 Lexington Place NE
Washington, DC 20002
Cell: 202-340-5766
Fax: 202-478-2679
Insurance:
CareFirst Blue Choice POS Open Access
Mail Administrator
PO Box 14115
Lexington, KY 40512-4115
Member ID: GOM830 17 4726
Group #: 5800049-DC10
Ms. Kimberly Meek requires an immediate favorable decision from your company to obtain surgery for the replacement of her depleted pulse generator and a re-implant of her VNS prosthesis in order to maintain her previous wellness and to prevent her possible death.
I ask that you and/or your appropriate subordinate(s) immediately contact Mr. Jonathan Blum, Deputy Administrator and Director for the Center of Medicare at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at either of his two offices [(202) 690-6301 DC or (410) 786-4164 Baltimore)] or Ms. Amy Larrick, Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid at either of her two offices [(202) 690-5742 DC or (410) 786-2585 Baltimore] to validate that which I have presented to you.
More importantly, your immediate assistance and cooperation in trying to save Ms. Kimberly Meek’s life is a matter of grave urgency easily rectified by your company’s prompt authorization and approval of her rightful surgery.
Sincerely,
Herb
Joyce and Herbert Stein
1008 Trailmore Lane
Weston, FL 33326-2816
(954) 349-8733
http://www.vnstherapy-herb.blogspot.com
http://www.vnstherapy.wordpress.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY / Disclaimer
---------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This E-Mail is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. The information contained in this E-Mail is intended only for use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this E-Mail in error, please notify the sender immediately at the email address and/or phone number above and delete the information from your computer. Please do not copy or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person.
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message including attachments, if any, is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail, destroy all copies of the original message, and do not disseminate it further. If you are the intended recipient but do not wish to receive communications through this medium, please advise the sender immediately.
No comments:
Post a Comment