PLATFORM
Hospitalized patients and individuals seeking hospital-based healthcare.
Website with blog.

PROFILE
Occupational Therapist (M.A. USC)
UCLA Patient Advocacy Certificate Program
Motivational Interviewer
100 Days to Launch Your Practice (in progress)
Advocate for family and friends
School of Hard Knocks as a patient (especially around…[Read more]

Hi Emily,

How fantastic that you studied for a year in Madrid. I did the Salzburg Semester when as an undergrad at The University of Redlands.

I love this as one of your categories: “Receiving New Diagnoses.” There is so much to unpack there for clients including emotional, physical, financial and responsibilities to others issues. I will als…[Read more]

You welcome!

Thank you for your input! I shared it with the patient and she is so grateful for suggestions. If she needs any follow up / direct help I will let folks know. Thanks again @Dalia and @Victoria

Hi Deb,
I wasn’t familiar with this type of exclusion until I looked into it, but it seems TMJ surgery is often not covered by either medical or dental insurance. From what I’ve learned, it may help to review the patient’s full plan, consider an appeal with medical necessity documentation, or explore options like payment plans, hospital chari…[Read more]

Thank you! this is very helpful!

Hi.

I just found an alternative that may be considered for the patient. Is called the Urbanek TMJ Device and Protocol. Apparently was cleared by the FDA:

https://www.urbanektmj.com/how-it-works#:~:text=A%20TMJ%20SOLUTION%20THAT%20ACTUALLY%20WORKS%2C&text=The%20Urbanek%20Device%20is%20the,proven%2095%25%2B%20success%20rate.

Hi, Deb.

Most health insurances in Puerto Rico do not cover TMJ treatment neither. If her health insurance policy directly excludes services for such specific diagnosis, then they definitely won’t pay for it. If she doesn’t have the policy at hand to confirm if such exclusion was included, I mean if she’s only been told, my first suggestion would…[Read more]

Io, we have experience with several types of breast cancer including invasive ductal carcinoma that is hormone positive, but not at the VA or UCSD.

AnnMarie McIlwain

Thanks for everyone’s input!

Julie, Registered Agent (self)

Many thanks Deb, I will reach out to them and keep an eye out for anyone else answering here in the thread.

We have many members in CA, but more in LA and NorCal than San Diego. Gabrielle Hochberg may know people in the area if she doesn’t handle breast cancer (she may) and Dana Hutson may know people in San Diego with the breast cancer specialty (b/c Dana specializes in cancer navigation/advocacy).

Thank you, Julie! I love your questions. You’ve given me wonderful things to research. I’m sure that many curious minds want to know. You’ll have to read my blog to get the answers. *wink* 🙂

Julie,
I really like how you are going to be including information from such different categories. I think it will draw people in, for sure! I want to read your blog already!