Guest guest Posted November 14, 2000 Report Share Posted November 14, 2000 Cheney - for Ellen > > > > > > > Ellen, you asked " Who out there has seen Dr. Cheney? How have you > improved > > since your visit? What's his approximate cost? " > > > > > > I see Cheney about twice a year. My choice would be once a year, but my > > private disability folks like to review me every six months and I need > > documentation, so... > > > > > > Cheney charges $480 an hour, which sounds outrageous, but it's actually > on > > a par with many national specialists, and is actually less than he could > > charge. Those who are published researchers and still see patients often > > charge $800 an hour, and Cheney has colleagues who can't believe he's > under > > $500. But he knows it would then be impossible for many of us. It is for a > > great many as it is. He didn't charge an honorarium to speak to support > > group, returned the $700 folks in our group had donated to thank him, and > > puts much of his own money into his research. I know I sound like the > Cheney > > fan club leader. :-) Ken offered to buy me a T-Shirt to that effect. :-) > > > > > > The clinic new patient info pak says something like $4,000 to $6,000 for > > the initial visit. You can get the info pak by calling the clinic at > > 910-457-7133. > > > > > > What is wonderful and awful (money-wise) at the same time is the time he > > devotes to each patient. He typically sees 2 people a day, sometimes > three. > > His staff told me 3 people usually mean a 14 hour day for him. I've had > two > > visits that began around two or three in the afternoon, and we left his > > office around eight in the evening. About 10 or 12 folks from our support > > group have seem him in the last year or two. Initial visits are always > done > > over two days. I spent " only " about five hours with him on my initial > visit > > in '96. Folks here have spent anywhere from six to ten hours with him over > > the two days. It depends on how complex your case is, how much you already > > know, and frankly how often you keep asking why. If you ask why, expect a > > full, long explanation! :-) > > > > > > My follow up visits are one day, about three hours, if I don't need to > > take the bike test for disability documentation. I do that once a year, > and > > I do it on the morning of the second day. > > > > > > I've been fortunate with insurance. They exclude very little of the lab > > work, so I get 70 to 80% of it reimbursed. The billing for the doctor time > > is a mystery to me. Sometimes they reimburse about 40% of it, once in > awhile > > 50 to 60% of it. But overall about 40 to 60% of my visit will be covered > by > > insurance. But you have to pay in full up front, thought they do file the > > insurance for you. > > > > > > Many folks in our group have borrowed money from extended family for one > > visit - just to get a thorough evaluation and treatment plan. Almost > > everyone has come back having spent more than expected, but everyone has > > said it was worth every penny and more. All feel that it's probably the > best > > evaluation and treatment they could get anywhere. And for many of us, it's > > Cheney's documentation that makes it possible to receive disability > income. > > > > > > In my book, Cheney is a rare combination of clinician, researcher and > > teacher. And you get the benefit of all three at your visit. > > > > > > Just FYI, Cheney has a much smaller clinic that he had in Charlotte. And > a > > complete turnover in staff this summer. Two women, Judy and , work > the > > administrative/assistant side of things, and Josh is a temporary full-time > > staffer coordinating Cheney's latest and most exciting study involving > > recombinant human growth hormone and bovine growth factor injections. And > > yes, Cheney and his wife, Holly, life upstairs above the clinic. > > > > > > I am not dramatically better since seeing him. But with this illness, I > > don't think you can measure a doctor's skill solely by his or her cure > rate, > > though that is a factor to be considered. I absolutely believe that I am > in > > less pain and more functional now than I would be under anyone else's > care. > > And I believe I probably would have no disability income if it weren't for > > Cheney. I was bedridden and in great pain when I saw him. Though still > > extremely limited, I am much more comfortable and functional. I believe > > potential future problems have been eliminated or minimized, and that my > > chances for future improvement have been maximized. I am hopeful. And that > > is worth the cost. > > > > > > I didn't mean to write a book, much less preach, but Cheney does tend to > > inspire loyalty in patients! :-) > > > > > > Take care. Carol > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 In a message dated 3/8/01 8:47:46 AM Pacific Standard Time, melillo3@... writes: << Hi , Yes, I still see Dr. Hoang but have not seen him since September, we did email each other since then. I am in interested in the Hitt Center in Tijuana, Mexico since a few CFS patients have recovered using Ozone and other treatments. Ozone is not legal in the USA thats why the clinic is there. Not covered by insurance either. BVT- Bee Venom Therapy may also be something to try with certain Los Angeles doctors. Best of Health, Al >> Hi Al, thanks for writing back. That is neat that you guys talk through email. Even though you don't see him does he still treat you and order things for you when you email him and ask him to? Also, that place in Mexico sounds good,,,have you been researching it for a while to see what they do there? I was thinking of going to clinic like that as well...or maybe an anti-aging place that specializes in diseases. I haven't found a good one yet and I am broke so that might be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Hi , Yes, I email Dr. Hoang and he replies to my emails. I also forward CFS research of interest I find on the internet to him. On Dr. Hitt, A CFS patient told that she and several friends of hers are cured using Dr. Hitt's treatments. He is also a scientist, NASA used him to examine the moon rocks. I spoke to another male patient who's mother was on our list and he recovered using Dr. Hitt's treatments. You can request literature from Dr. Hitt's office at: 888-671-9849. It's expensive, each ozone treatment is $250 and you need a series of them and the doctor visit is $100 plus adrenal cortical extract $100. There may be discounts depending on how many you need. Urine shots called AUIT for immune system from your urine are used. The clinic is called the Hitt Center. Al Re: Fw: Al M. > Hi Al, thanks for writing back. That is neat that you guys talk through > email. Even though you don't see him does he still treat you and order > things for you when you email him and ask him to? Also, that place in Mexico > sounds good,,,have you been researching it for a while to see what they do > there? I was thinking of going to clinic like that as well...or maybe an > anti-aging place that specializes in diseases. I haven't found a good one > yet and I am broke so that might be a problem. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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