Ugh.
Remember the reaction I had in December? Well, I am trying to work through things with my insurance company and the providers. I am really frustrated, and I need some help.
First, I need some help finding the thread where I described my reaction. I've not been able to find it with the words
Amy's
- sesame by Macabre
- reaction by Macabre
- SOP byajasfolks2 (I remember she wrote that in response to the second dose of epinephrine)
And then I need some help with strategy.
My insurance won't cover the $1400 ambulance bill (I live 1.4 miles from the hospital) because the ambulance company didn't use the right code to indicate urgent care.
The ambulance company said the notes on my file don't indicate urgent. Don't indicate anaphylaxis. I didn't have hives or shortness of breath . . . . (actually, I did have shortness of breath--it was one of the reason I Epid).
I talked with the assistant fire chief about my reaction, said I was experiencing two or more body systems after ingesting sesame directly, and per my doctor's instructions, I epid and called for transport.
The ER has described the event as anaphylactic. The ER physician's bill was paid at 100% (I've only had to make my ER copay), and what they wrote indicated anaphylaxis.
The ambulance company is not interested in:
1) the ER's diagnosis, because what happened in the ER and what happened with the ambulance are two different things
2) learning about how the AAAAI defines anaphylaxis because "Ma'am (isn't that sweet he used that term up here), I've been doing this for years. I know what anaphylaxis is." (Of course, earlier he said "You didn't have hives.")
He thinks I'm asking him to change a "legal document." Um, no. I'm asking him to correct his files. He said he won't change the code just so my insurance will cover this. I told him I am not asking him to falsify anything; I am asking him to put the correct informtation in the files.
He said, "You didn't have anaphylaxis."
Is he a physician? No. Did he see Serum Tryptase results? No. (The ER didn't take them, and he's not interested in the attending physician's diagnosis anyway.)
How is he qualified to diagnose anaphylaxis?
Ugh. So I am between allergists. I don't even have a primary care physician yet.
I have no doubt that I will win this.
No doubt.
But wow--I do not have time to deal with this battle. But I will engage.
I know I wrote a fairly detailed account of the reaction. I can't imagine I'd put it in V&D.
I'm keeping this here because I don't want it public, though if there are helpful tidbits, I will redact later and put it in Main--if it would be helpful for others.
Ugh--help me friends. Ideas for strategy--or finding my thread?
