From: Herbert Stein [mailto:fabrik@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 11:59 AM
To: Madam Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
Subject: World suicide prevention day on September 10, 2014
Dear Madam Secretary Burwell,
I bring to your attention that Wednesday, September 10, 2014 is world suicide prevention day.
“In the 15 to 29-year age group, suicide is the second leading cause of death globally.”
In each of my emails to you I have tried to convey to the best of my ability the seriousness of severe depression and now I also add the enormity of the problem.
The facts are we have for decades offered conventional therapies that for many of these patients have proven ineffective and costly to our families and economy. This being one of several reasons we as a nation have need for newer treatment options.
As I’ve already explained to you, one of those treatment options, VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation), which the FDA approved and two (2) years later CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) denied coverage has helped benefit patients who have for decades been unresponsive to conventional therapies. In that ill-fated decision and for the first time ever CMS denied coverage for an FDA approved medical device. We are also now learning not only with the suicide of Robin Williams, the enormity of severe depression and the suicide challenge. Worse yet CMS left a group of volunteer study subjects and patients without medical care and coverage. CMS through their ineptitude, ignorance, deity syndrome and/or criminality either overlooked or ignored grandfathering care and medical coverage for our fellow citizens and patients. Bless our convoluted and bureaucratic health care system and agencies.
I also take this opportunity to inform you and others that today is “NAMI's National Day of Action”:
Madam Secretary, I encourage you and all who read this message to please sign on and share this initiative with others while at the same time I once again implore you to sign a “Compassionate Use” document to formally cover these aggrieved VNS patients to insure proper care and to encourage the private health insurers to follow suit.
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
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