[Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
Mike Freeman
k7uij at panix.com
Sat Jan 30 03:38:36 UTC 2010
I'll discuss it with him if I get a chance this weekend.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 6:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
> Got a Question should this come from the President of the Diabetic Action
> Network to approach Dr. Maurer. When we formed a committee with NAGDU to
> start a 1-800 hotline for advocacy and eduation, we did not need
> permission to do this from Dr. Maurer, but I am sure when we got our grant
> from the Imagination Fund, it was put out there by the President of NAGDU,
> Marion Gwizdala. Or am I missing something. I am willing to contact Dr.
> Maurer on my own, but since you are also a Board Member of the NFB.
> Couldn't you approach him.
>
> I think it goes through channels if I am not correct.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Contractor
> www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
> 1-866-580-5574
> blog.echevarriatravel.com
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
> CST-1018299-10
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mike Freeman<mailto:k7uij at panix.com>
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Jordan Benis<mailto:jbenis at advanceddiabeticsolutions.net> ; Joe
> Ruffalo<mailto:nfbnj at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 12:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
>
>
> Actually, we'd have to think about this fairly carefully as there are
> disparate views on what needs to be done viz. healthcare and insurance
> (remember opening day of the 2009 convention?). If we could come up with
> a
> purpose that would satisfy both liberals and conservatives, you could ask
> Dr. Maurer; he it would be that would have to approve such a committee.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "cheryl echevarria"
> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind"
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>>
> Cc: "Jordan Benis"
> <jbenis at advanceddiabeticsolutions.net<mailto:jbenis at advanceddiabeticsolutions.net>>;
> "Joe Ruffalo"
> <nfbnj at yahoo.com<mailto:nfbnj at yahoo.com>>
> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:14 AM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
>
>
> >I would like to ask this again. Last year, Ed Bryant had asked me to
> Chair
> >a Committee on Health Insurance. I think we need this as much know,
> then
> >ever and this should be Organizational wide not Division wide.
> Insurance
> >does not only effect the Diabetic but all of us. With the uncertainty
> of
> >what will happen with our health insurance over the next full year until
> >our government officials do something to improve it we are still on our
> >own.
> >
> > So would like to know should we still create this committee.
> >
> > Cheryl Echevarria
> > Independent Contractor
> > www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
> > 1-866-580-5574
> > blog.echevarriatravel.com
> >
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
> > CST-1018299-10
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Vincent Chaney"
> <vgc732 at optonline.net<mailto:vgc732 at optonline.net>>
> > To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind"
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>>
> > Cc: "Jordan Benis"
> <jbenis at advanceddiabeticsolutions.net<mailto:jbenis at advanceddiabeticsolutions.net>>;
> "Joe Ruffalo"
> > <nfbnj at yahoo.com<mailto:nfbnj at yahoo.com>>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 1:41 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
> >
> >
> >> Mike, the DAN Board and All Members,
> >>
> >> I, as the President of the NFBNJ Diabetes Division was directly
> involved
> >> in
> >> addressing this issue at our state convention. I wrote the following
> >> resolution with input from Jordan Benis of Advanced Diabetic
> Solutions. I
> >> thought to address this insurance non acceptance of talking blood
> glucose
> >> meters initially at the state level.
> >> The resolution is available in the NFBNJ Sounding Board Fall 2009 from
> >> the
> >> web
> http://www.nfbnj.org/docs/SB_Fall_2009.doc<http://www.nfbnj.org/docs/SB_Fall_2009.doc>
> >> Jordan Benis agreed with me and we both thought to then bring this to
> the
> >> 2010 NFB National Convention in Dallas, Tx. Jordan shared his company
> has
> >> to
> >> reject many people per day due to the HMO formulary list not including
> >> any
> >> talking meters.
> >> I would be glad to take the lead on presenting this to the NFB
> Resolution
> >> Committee to be reviewed in Dallas this year on behalf of the DAN
> Board
> >> and
> >> all our members.
> >> Joseph Ruffalo, NFBNJ President has said a resolution from the NFBNJ
> >> Sounding Board Fall 2009 Fall issue is available to be shared as long
> as
> >> no
> >> wording is changed without the approval of the NFBNJ Board. I will
> >> forward a
> >> copy of the MS Word document to the DAN Board as the following
> copy/paste
> >> may appear slightly choppy coming through Outlook Express.
> >>
> >>
> >> Resolution 2009-03
> >>
> >> Regarding Access to Talking Glucometers
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, in today's market, certain health insurance plans dictate
> what
> >> brand of diabetic equipment a member must use to stay compliant with
> >> their
> >> treatment regimen, claiming that this strategy is utilized to control
> >> costs
> >> to the plan and prevent healthcare premiums from rising; and
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, today, most insurance companies contract strictly with one
> >> manufacturer who provides only inaccessible, non-talking glucometers,
> >> thereby presenting a serious obstacle to complying with their testing
> >> regimen for the five million people with diabetes who are blind or
> >> visually
> >> impaired; and
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, the most effective way to stabilize diabetes is for a patient
> to
> >> test his or her blood sugar frequently and take action on any blood
> sugar
> >> that falls outside of medical guidelines; and
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, because no accessible blood glucose monitors appear on
> current
> >> medical insurance formulary lists, the visually impaired and blind are
> >> forced to use blood glucose monitors designed for sighted patients;
> and
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, when blind or visually impaired patients are forced to use
> >> non-talking meters, they often do not test at all, thereby drastically
> >> increasing their risk of complications, morbidity and mortality; and
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, the only way a blind or visually impaired diabetic can
> acquire
> >> an
> >> accessible blood glucose monitor is through a long and complicated
> >> process
> >> of submitting extensive medical documentation, and approval is not
> >> guaranteed; and
> >>
> >> WHEREAS, the inaccessibility of blood glucose monitors on the
> formulary
> >> lists creates a barrier to independence for the blind in choice,
> >> management
> >> of health, and control of their diabetes, and hinders their quality of
> >> life:
> >> Now, therefore,
> >>
> >> BE IT RESOLVED by the NFB of NJ, in Convention assembled this 8th day
> of
> >> Nov. 2009, in the township of Clark, NJ, that this organization call
> upon
> >> our state legislators to speedily pass legislation that accomplishes
> the
> >> following purposes: to make it a civil offense to sell inaccessible
> blood
> >> glucose monitors to blind clients; to mandate all insurance companies
> to
> >> have at least one fully accessible glucometer on their formulary list;
> >> and
> >> to put into place fines or other penalties to ensure compliance with
> the
> >> law.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Vinny
> >> Vincent Chaney Jr
> >> NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board
> >> NFBNJ Diabetes Division President
> >> NJAGDU Division President
> >> NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President
> >> NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com<mailto:k7uij at panix.com>>
> >> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind"
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 10:40 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
> >>
> >>
> >> Actually, we need specifics: who was denied coverage for the Prodigy
> >> Voice
> >> by which HMO on what date(s)? With whom did the individual(s) speak?
> Did
> >> he/she/they have a prescription from his/her/their doctor(s)
> specifying
> >> that
> >> the Prodigy Voice be used? In what state(s) did these problems occur
> >> (laws
> >> in the several states may be different).
> >>
> >> Mike Freeman, President
> >> Diabetes Action Network
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "cheryl echevarria"
> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>>
> >> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind"
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 11:50 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
> >>
> >>
> >> > well, I am also a Medical Insurance Specialist and anything is
> >> > possible.
> >> >
> >> > Medicare will not deny it, but that is why I posted it out there, I
> >> > mean
> >> > we have a few people who work for these companies on this list, let
> >> > them
> >> > answer us on this issue.
> >> >
> >> > Cheryl Echevarria
> >> > Independent Contractor
> >> > www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
> >> > 1-866-580-5574
> >> >
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
> >> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
> >> > CST-1018299-10
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "David Meyer"
> <datemeyer at sbcglobal.net<mailto:datemeyer at sbcglobal.net>>
> >> > To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'"
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>>
> >> > Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 2:43 PM
> >> > Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the
> HMOs
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Cheryl,
> >> >>
> >> >> I don't know if this would make any difference or not. As I'm sure
> >> >> you
> >> >> know, all HMOs are not created equal and that some of them in fact
> try
> >> >> to
> >> >> get out of paying for whatever they can get out of.
> >> >>
> >> >> That said, when I had to replace my glucose meter almost two years
> >> >> ago, I
> >> >> told my doctor to write on the referral that the Prodigy Voice was
> the
> >> >> only
> >> >> completely accessible glucose meter presently out there and that
> >> >> without
> >> >> it,
> >> >> I could not test independently, nor could I monitor test results.
> >> >> Taking
> >> >> that approach worked for me.
> >> >>
> >> >> The unfortunate reality in my opinion is that so long as insurance
> >> >> companies
> >> >> continue to play games with our lives, we must sometimes stretch
> the
> >> >> truth a
> >> >> little to get what we want or need.
> >> >>
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From:
> diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org>
> >> >> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl
> >> >> echevarria
> >> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 10:19 AM
> >> >> To: diabetes-talk
> >> >> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice not being paid by the HMOs
> >> >>
> >> >> I had brought this up in October when I returned from the State
> >> >> Convention
> >> >> of NY.
> >> >>
> >> >> I was told by a Vendor of the Prodigy Voice who is affiliated with
> >> >> Advanced
> >> >> Diabetic Solutions, by the way I was told that they are going to be
> a
> >> >> vendor
> >> >> at both this year's convention and next year's as well.
> >> >>
> >> >> The Vendors had mentioned that the HMOs such as HIP, Aetna, United
> >> >> Healthcare, were not paying for the prodigy voice and others
> because
> >> >> these
> >> >> companies feel that these are a fad and that they shouldn't have to
> >> >> pay
> >> >> for
> >> >> them.
> >> >>
> >> >> I again ask if Tina Rockwell is on the talk list yet, to let us
> know
> >> >> this
> >> >> so
> >> >> that we can possibly put action in motion. Sue and Cy Fetzner who
> are
> >> >> the
> >> >> ones who Represented Advanced Diabetic Solutions as the Convention
> >> >> they
> >> >> also
> >> >> do great diabetic shoes, I just got my pair, better then the other
> >> >> vendor
> >> >> we
> >> >> had in Dallas in 2008.
> >> >>
> >> >> This is a very serious issue and should be worked on as a whole,
> once
> >> >> we
> >> >> find out exactly what is going on.
> >> >>
> >> >> Cheryl Echevarria
> >> >> Independent Contractor
> >> >> www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
> >> >> 1-866-580-5574
> >> >>
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:Reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
> >> >> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
> >> >> CST-1018299-10
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> Diabetes-talk mailing list
> >> >> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> >> >>
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> >> >> Diabetes-talk:
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> >> >> bcglobal.net
> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
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> >> >> 01/19/10
> >> >> 07:34:00
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> >>
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> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Diabetes-talk mailing list
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> >> >
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> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >>
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> >>
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> >>
> >
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