Hey Ya'll!

I don't know if anyone's missed me, but I haven't been around much lately....
Some of you might remember that my Pain Management Specialists took me out of work in early December. I still am out of work and do not know when they will release me to go back. I have another appointment with them on Feb. 11th.

My Short Term Disability claim was denied as of December 24, 2007. I'm appealing that.

It seems that the specialists who told me not to work didn't send ANY medical records in. I should have been back to work on December 26th, but OOPS!!! the insurance company didn't make that determination until December 29th, and they back-dated the letter they sent to December 20th, although it's post-marked January 2nd.

My supervisor called me today and told me that each and every day since December 24th was counting against my attendance. If I go back to work and the Insurance Company denies my appeal, they'll terminate me for excessive absenses. If I resign, nothing will be held against me. This sucks... i've worked so hard to get a decent job in my field, only to be taken out of work for health reasons.

I requested (and, OMG!!! received!!!) documentation that shows that the ONLY documents the insurance company received before my claim was denied were sent by me. My specialsts took me out of work and did not provide any documentation to support the reasons why until I contacted their home office and spoke to Human Resources. THEN they sent 90+ pages of documentation.....

What should I do?? I talked to Gary about this and he suggested contacting both our attorney and Employee Assistance. I don't want my specialists to quit treating me, but they obviously aren't following up on things. I called them numerous times before I contacted their home office, and I have another call in to them which has not been returned.

I don't want to put myself in the position where no physician will treat me, but these people aren't doing their job.

What would you do in the same situation???

Opinions, please....!

Cheri

Consult a work injury attorney. Or yours if he does that type of work. I think that's your best bet.

I agree that an Attorney that speializes in that kind of case is your very best bet. He may take part of your settlement as his fee.

(((((Cheri)))))

I have to say that I agree.

I'm sorry that you are in so much pain again

((((((((Cheri)))))))))

Cheri - of course we've missed you and definitely notice when you aren't here. I've been praying for you every day..

I have to agree with the others. When I was trying to get Social Security Disability, an attorney did in 1 month what we couldn't do in 9 months. An initial request and 2 appeals. The attorney even spoke to me on the phone and said we needed to handle the first appeal and told us what to do. When that was denied, he took over and was just awesome.

David's disability was approved immediately on diagnosis.

We had trouble with our pulmonologist not sending in stuff. We just started going into his office and standing at the front desk until someone did something..

It was a bit ridiculous.

Cheryl I'm so sorry.

I agree with everyone else - get an attorney. It's a shame that it takes such a step to get attention, but that is the way it is most of the time. You can go around in circles but let an attorney call and things get done. I guess you just have show them you mean business to get their attention.

I haven't entirely made my mind up concerning my job. I was struggling there before the Pain Management Specialists took me out of work, and I think that job just is too much mental stress for me at this point. I'm not really worried about them.

It's my Pain Management Specialists i'm truly, deeply angry with. I can't get those people to return a phone call for anything. In order to get the Medical Records faxed, I had to go through the H/R department at their main office. This was after 3 calls to them (Wednesday, Thursday and Monday - they're closed on Fridays) once the insurance company told me that they'd sent nothing in. So... I contacted a wonderful woman in H/R at the main office and within 5 minutes the Nurse Practitioner who kept me out of work for January was on the phone telling me she'd sent the documentation, that they've had problems with receiving their messages, but that she would resend all medical immediately. The H/R lady called back within 15 minutes of that call making sure that they'd contacted me, and then one of their office staff contacted me to tell me that the records had been faxed that they'd successful fax confirmation. That lady sure lit a fire under their rear ends!

I am unsure what responsibilities a Medical Office has to their patients, but i'm sure that if they take you out of work for two months, there are some sort of guidelines stating that they have a responsibility to respond to requests for information supporting that, once all releases have been signed.

As far as problems with receiving their messages... well, they shold never have opened their doors for business if that didn't have those procedures properly in place, as far as i'm concerned.

I have a call into them now that hasn't been returned. I'm pretty steamed about that also. I think it's about time they realized that they aren't the only health care provider within this area who is equipped to deal with chronic pain patients.

Thanks so much for all the advice, prayers, and for missing me. I've been pretty miserable this past month, and I just can't sit at the computer for very long at all without my back doing into spasms.

Love and Hugs and Blessings to all of you for caring -

Cheri

(((Cheri)))