Hi
I got an idea while watching Montel today. There was a seg on a congressman who had cancer and was cured by an experimental drug. He has gone on to become an advocate of those who need the same type meds but cannot afford them or cannot get insurance to pay for them. He has set up a program that has drug companies involved to help pay for or provide free of charge meds for those who need them.
Montel is a chronic pain sufferer also. I got the idea to contact him and the congressman and tell them of all of us who are waiting for ADR and our insurance companies wont pay for the surgery.
I figure it cant hurt to send an email or make a phone call to see if they are interesed in our problems.
WE might get some media coverageo or some proessure placed on our ins to approve us who knows?
I want numbers so that I can tell them how many of us are out there in the same boat. I want them to know this is a wide spread problem and many people are suffering because beaurocrats at the insurance companies are stalling.
Speak up if you are in the same boat I am or if anyone has numbers or stats please share.
Feel free to give me ideas on this if you have them.
Thanks

I have an idea, we could call our doctors office and ask how many patients are waiting for insurance approval. Since we don't need names they should be able to tell us a number. Because there are so many of us on this site, and we all have different doc's so if we listed the what we find we could have a bunch of different numbers. Cathy

Guesstimate:

50-100 ADR's. 1.5 ADR's per patient = 75 patients +-.

Many have ins., few have ins. that will cover diddly. Maybe we should lobby the Federal government for low cost loans to pay for surgery and indemnify us for costs related to surgery, or legislation that requires ins. cos. and HMO's to cover after care.

I am just learning how this site works Kim. I already email you. I will do anything to help. What are your thoughts as to where we should move from here?

Thanks, Becky

Kim, it's an ambitious idea. I assume that there are thousands of people, perhaps tens of thousands, that are in need of some kind of arthroplasty. To get an accurate number would take many months of research! But the idea is noble, let me know if I can help...

PS: The people on this site represent a very, very small number of pre and post op patients; though I think it is the most concentrated, interactive ADR patient community in the world - more than 40 countres have visited!

Update
I have written Montel and my congressmen and senators asking that something be done about this. I have invited all of them to come to this site and others and read about what we are going through so they can see that this is a BIG issue in this country. I understand this is an ambitious thing and maybe nothing will come of it but then again maybe something will. You NEVER know til you try http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...icon_smile.gif
I encourage all others to do the same. Write Montel, write your congressman, write your senator. Let them know that there are all of us out here who are in pain and do not have to be! If they get a lot of letters maybe they will sit up and listen!
Kim

I wrote Oprah no responce. May try again. http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common.../icon_wink.gif

2 level for me. Insurance denied

I think it is a wonderful idea. I just called Betty at Texas Back Institute. She said that conservatively there are 100-150 people waiting for United Health Care to cover ADR. Just like my husband, they are all suffering tremendously in the meantime. I'm all for putting these Insurance Companies on the spot. The appeal process is a hoax. I've been seriously thinking of contacting Michael Moore. He is great at shaking things up! I am totally in. Please keep me posted!!

amanda,

Call Michael Moore! What a great idea anyone have his number? No worries I found it the "Moore" emails the better!

Michael Moore

Thanks Paulette!!! I just wrote to him. You are the bomb! Maybe he'll take an interest..we'll see.

Hillary Clinton was on the Today Show this am - how about writing to her too? Esp. folks in New York...can't hurt right?
Andrea

Another great idea...........Here it is go for it!

Hillary Clinton http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...on_biggrin.gif

Thanks Paulette!
And maybe I'll copy Oprah too. After all, what 2 more powerful women are out there?
Andrea

Andrea,

YOU "GO" GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...on_biggrin.gif I'm right behind you.

Opera

Lets all get together and do a letter writing campaign the same day or something. I agree with what someone said on another post. Numbers do talk!!!! If Montel gets a bunch of letters on the same day maybe they will sit up and take notice!
What do you guys say??? Are you game? I am!!!!

I am new here and am in the process of finding a Dr that will request the adr surgery. The ones I have been to so far wont bother because my ins. BC/BS of Wyoming wont cover it. I have been busy setting the stage for my appeals and probably future lawsuit. This week I have an add (4x4) coming out in our paper that covers the entire state. It reads: Are you a candidate for a disk replacement surgery? Have you been denied this FDA approved device by your insurance company? If so please call me. The add will cost about 300.00. I have been talking to all my local and state representative. I am waiting for the Senator to come back in the office to visit with him. So far the intrest has been genuin and they want numbers. One of the representatives is also an orthopedic surgeon. He is angry. None of them were aware of this situation withe the ins. com. I have also spoke withe the Insurance comissioner of Wyoming and they have been very helpful. Part of our premium money goes torwards new technology. The insurance commisioner wants to know why then is it not available to us. They recommendsuing and have sent paperwork to file an official complaint when I am denied, wich I will be. I have a letter to the editor ready to be sent and calls in the local news paper for a story. I am going to contact the tv news. I will not go quietly!I hope these ideas work and help others. I will let you know as I go what I am doing and the responses I get along the way. BendaWyoming

Kim,

I do believe that there is power in numbers.

Even though we as members here only represent a small portion of the population ailing here in the US from spine issues (considering that back pain is like the 2nd most common complaint necessitating physician office visits next to the common cold)--- I think you have a good idea in the works here.

However, this will need to be methodical and orchestrated in such as way that is most likely to draw attention to our situation(s)and increase awareness to the issues / obstacles that we are currently faced with.

I need some time to think about this regarding suggestions/solutions to accomplish this task.

BrendaWY:

Great idea with the newspaper adv. Can you send a copy to my e-mail or post a copy here? I'm close here in Colorado, maybe we could work together on some of this. I'd like to show your add to my attorney who is currently gathering information.

Thanks.
Brady

Poncho
Thanks I totally agree with you and am open to any suggestions anyone might have about getting something organized that can get our message out!
Kim

Brenda,

I agree, this is also a great idea and I too would like to have a look at your ad if you don't mind sending it as a PM.

I tried to email it to you but it didnt go through, so here it is. The add comes out in the Casper Star Tribune starting Thursday. Wish me luck.


ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL DISC REPLACEMENT SURGERY? HAVE YOU BEEN DENIED THIS FDA APPROVED DEVICE? IF SO PLEASE CALL ME AT { your phone number}