Re: Doctors who lie and say they use the method!

[Guest guest]

I was still mad, so I called Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

myself and talked to Dr. son's secretary. I told her my son had

clubfoot and asked if he used the Ponseti method. She said yes. I

said I don't see him listed on Dr. Ponseti's website as a certified

doctor, I don't see any doctors in NJ or PA listed. She said he is

certified and qualified and actaully is good friends with Dr.

Ponseti. So now I emailed Dr. Ponseti's office to see if he is really

certified or not? I am just sick of people telling me they are when

there not! I just don't understand what it is worth to them to lie,

why don't they just be honest and say we do something similar even

very similar but no we don't do his method to a T.... I'm sure I'll

be back to vent again soon (LOL)!

Michele

[Guest guest]

I was still mad, so I called Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

myself and talked to Dr. son's secretary. I told her my son had

clubfoot and asked if he used the Ponseti method. She said yes. I

said I don't see him listed on Dr. Ponseti's website as a certified

doctor, I don't see any doctors in NJ or PA listed. She said he is

certified and qualified and actaully is good friends with Dr.

Ponseti. So now I emailed Dr. Ponseti's office to see if he is really

certified or not? I am just sick of people telling me they are when

there not! I just don't understand what it is worth to them to lie,

why don't they just be honest and say we do something similar even

very similar but no we don't do his method to a T.... I'm sure I'll

be back to vent again soon (LOL)!

Michele

[Guest guest]

Michele,

Make sure that you share with them that there is a difference between doing the

ponseti

method and being a ponseti certified doctor and that by cutting out the middle

man and

going to the ponseti certified you will be saving them a lot of money in the

long run. Also,

did you get it in writing that you were allowed to go? And did you get the name

of the

person that approved you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on insurance companies! They just don't have a clue. Take

some deep breaths. I'm so sorry you got caught up in the insurance war.

10-09-03

> I am so angry right now! My insurance company Aetna already said we

> have permission, etc to goto Dr. Ponseti in Iowa. Now there is some

> lady there reseaching it saying we should be denied because there are

> doctors in my area that do the ponseti method. She told my peds.

> office that 2 doctors in Philadelphia, PA at CHOPS and 1 doctor at St.

> 's in PA use the method...AND THEY DON " T!! I just don't

> get the insurance company! I called and left her a message that if

> they say they do they probably are lying or do there own variation

> just like Collin's dr. did at Dupont when he was little. He told me

> several times he uses the Ponseti method and so did the residents,

> etc. I just don't understand why these doctors don't fess up and say

> I do my own variation of the ponseti method but I am not listed as a

> qualifed ponseti doctor, etc... She supposedly called both hospitals

> and they said yes and gave her appoinments dates we could go to. I'm

> even angrier because I was already told it was fine for us to go, now

> I find out that this lady is trying to get us denied. Ok, I'll stop

> with the angry vent for now...but it feels a bit better to get it out.

>

> MIchele

[Guest guest]

Michele,

Make sure that you share with them that there is a difference between doing the

ponseti

method and being a ponseti certified doctor and that by cutting out the middle

man and

going to the ponseti certified you will be saving them a lot of money in the

long run. Also,

did you get it in writing that you were allowed to go? And did you get the name

of the

person that approved you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on insurance companies! They just don't have a clue. Take

some deep breaths. I'm so sorry you got caught up in the insurance war.

10-09-03

> I am so angry right now! My insurance company Aetna already said we

> have permission, etc to goto Dr. Ponseti in Iowa. Now there is some

> lady there reseaching it saying we should be denied because there are

> doctors in my area that do the ponseti method. She told my peds.

> office that 2 doctors in Philadelphia, PA at CHOPS and 1 doctor at St.

> 's in PA use the method...AND THEY DON " T!! I just don't

> get the insurance company! I called and left her a message that if

> they say they do they probably are lying or do there own variation

> just like Collin's dr. did at Dupont when he was little. He told me

> several times he uses the Ponseti method and so did the residents,

> etc. I just don't understand why these doctors don't fess up and say

> I do my own variation of the ponseti method but I am not listed as a

> qualifed ponseti doctor, etc... She supposedly called both hospitals

> and they said yes and gave her appoinments dates we could go to. I'm

> even angrier because I was already told it was fine for us to go, now

> I find out that this lady is trying to get us denied. Ok, I'll stop

> with the angry vent for now...but it feels a bit better to get it out.

>

> MIchele

[Guest guest]

I just found out now, that even know we were told we had approval,

etc...we are now denied! I think that is such BS. I didn't have it

in writing though, dummy me. But Collin's peds.office should have it

in his chart which should help. It is all because the doctors around

here lie and say they do the method. I can't do much more about it

tonight, so I will start again tommorow. It turns out some lady they

call a nurse researches it for our case manager, she found out the

info. then gave it to a Dr. Rosen that they say is a peditrician they

have on staff at Aetna (I said well does he treat patients? - and she

said no he wouldn't have the time, capicity, etc...because he is busy

working for Aetna). So now I have to have the doctors call this Dr.

Rosen and start over again. And start the appeal process. I am going

to fight this one, because how dare they give me permission then take

it away. You think they would want to learn about the method,

etc...but they just don't care to so far at Aenta, I feel it goes in

one ear and out the other.

Michele

[Guest guest]

I just found out now, that even know we were told we had approval,

etc...we are now denied! I think that is such BS. I didn't have it

in writing though, dummy me. But Collin's peds.office should have it

in his chart which should help. It is all because the doctors around

here lie and say they do the method. I can't do much more about it

tonight, so I will start again tommorow. It turns out some lady they

call a nurse researches it for our case manager, she found out the

info. then gave it to a Dr. Rosen that they say is a peditrician they

have on staff at Aetna (I said well does he treat patients? - and she

said no he wouldn't have the time, capicity, etc...because he is busy

working for Aetna). So now I have to have the doctors call this Dr.

Rosen and start over again. And start the appeal process. I am going

to fight this one, because how dare they give me permission then take

it away. You think they would want to learn about the method,

etc...but they just don't care to so far at Aenta, I feel it goes in

one ear and out the other.

Michele

[Guest guest]

Well I after using like a whole morning and calling and calling,

etc. I filed an appeal verbally. I still wonder if it was filed

because everyone tells you something different, etc. I think this

person sounded like she really did it, etc...but I've been fooled

before. The person before her earlier in the day told me to do it

in writing and gave me an adress in Kentucky, but I knew she didn't

sound confident so I kept on calling and figuing it out. I think

they make it difficult on purpose! They should have the process

spelled out in their pc system so they can read it to a member when

they call, etc. I did hear back from St. s today in

Philadelphia and the nurse there started off by saying yes yes yes

but then admitted she didn't know if he was qualified, etc.... at

least they became honest about it, CHOP's flat out lies when you ask

them. I said I would submit info. documents phone numbers, etc but

she said if they need something they will call me...which makes me

hope they are really going to investigate the appeal if they don't

even have medical info. on the ponseti method etc. My husband

thinks they make it hard because they know most people in an already

stressful situation will just give up. I think they really just

don't care about people's health it is a business too them they just

care about keeping costs down, and making money like business

usually do. I better try getting back to " normal " stuff now,

because this drains me and I've wasted like 1/2 a day on it and

researching appeals, etc. I may start preparing something in

writing this week just in case they decide they want that at least

I'll have the stats/facts backup support etc printed out and a

letter drafted. These people must have children that are 100% ok

and not ever need to go to specialists, etc because they just don't

give a dam and can't understand my frustration, etc because they

have not been there. If they were in our shoes they would want to

see qualified doctors and want qualified second opinions too!

Michele

[Guest guest]

I hope that lady's job keeps her up at night. How can they just be

so cold about things?? I would be furious too. With Aetna, they

play a game of " how many hoops will this person really jump through? "

I'm very upset at them myself today. I hate Aetna, I hate Aetna, I

hate Aetna.

Sorry to also be venting. Good luck - that is totally ridiculous.

Darby

Livi bi cf 3.15.04 p/m fab 16/7

> I am so angry right now! My insurance company Aetna already said

we

> have permission, etc to goto Dr. Ponseti in Iowa. Now there is

some

> lady there reseaching it saying we should be denied because there

are

> doctors in my area that do the ponseti method. She told my peds.

> office that 2 doctors in Philadelphia, PA at CHOPS and 1 doctor at

St.

> 's in PA use the method...AND THEY DON " T!! I just don't

> get the insurance company! I called and left her a message that if

> they say they do they probably are lying or do there own variation

> just like Collin's dr. did at Dupont when he was little. He told

me

> several times he uses the Ponseti method and so did the residents,

> etc. I just don't understand why these doctors don't fess up and

say

> I do my own variation of the ponseti method but I am not listed as

a

> qualifed ponseti doctor, etc... She supposedly called both

hospitals

> and they said yes and gave her appoinments dates we could go to.

I'm

> even angrier because I was already told it was fine for us to go,

now

> I find out that this lady is trying to get us denied. Ok, I'll

stop

> with the angry vent for now...but it feels a bit better to get it

out.

>

> MIchele

[Guest guest]

It isn't just Aetna! I just got off the phone with Medica after

being on the phone for an hour. My personal rep wasn't available so

I had to deal with some other schmuck who doesn't have clue one about

anything.

I swear, if they would just hire competent people they could save so

much money on customer service. Instead of all of us having to call

15 times to get something fixed, they could have it taken care of in

10 minutes instead of 10 days.

My insurance has been trying to bill us a $100 co-pay for all of the

casting visits and everything else. Once a week at $100 gets pretty

expensive, especially when the co-pay is supposed to be $20. They

were doing the same for visits to have adjustments made to the

shoes. Like hell if I'm paying them for that! I have it fixed, but

once and a while something happens and I have to call again. That's

when my rep comes in handy. I don't even have to explain, I just

give her dates of service and she fixes them.

Best wishes to you in your fight with insurance. Kick some insurance

rep butt!

> > I am so angry right now! My insurance company Aetna already said

> we

> > have permission, etc to goto Dr. Ponseti in Iowa. Now there is

> some

> > lady there reseaching it saying we should be denied because there

> are

> > doctors in my area that do the ponseti method. She told my peds.

> > office that 2 doctors in Philadelphia, PA at CHOPS and 1 doctor

at

> St.

> > 's in PA use the method...AND THEY DON " T!! I just

don't

> > get the insurance company! I called and left her a message that

if

> > they say they do they probably are lying or do there own

variation

> > just like Collin's dr. did at Dupont when he was little. He told

> me

> > several times he uses the Ponseti method and so did the

residents,

> > etc. I just don't understand why these doctors don't fess up and

> say

> > I do my own variation of the ponseti method but I am not listed

as

> a

> > qualifed ponseti doctor, etc... She supposedly called both

> hospitals

> > and they said yes and gave her appoinments dates we could go to.

> I'm

> > even angrier because I was already told it was fine for us to go,

> now

> > I find out that this lady is trying to get us denied. Ok, I'll

> stop

> > with the angry vent for now...but it feels a bit better to get it

> out.

> >

> > MIchele

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I don't mean to cause any trouble because clearly this is a very

important and personal issue, but I just wanted to mention that my

daughter, now almost 2, has been treated at CHOP for her RCF since

she was a week old. I have read all there is to read about the

Ponseti method and it seems to me that CHOP has followed the Method

to a T. Do you know someone who had a bad experience there? Please

tell me - I'd be very curious to know. CHOP was also just ranked the

best children's hospital in the country, and has held that

distinction for a few years. We have felt confident throughout the

entire treatment proces, and my daughter is a happy two year old who

walks, runs, and jumps and has never had any signs of a relapse or

any other complications. I don't know why the docs there are not

listed as officially Ponseti certified, but I plan to bring it up at

our next visit. Please let me know Dr. P's response to your email

about CHOP.

Thanks,

Elissa

> I am so angry right now! My insurance company Aetna already said

we

> have permission, etc to goto Dr. Ponseti in Iowa. Now there is

some

> lady there reseaching it saying we should be denied because there

are

> doctors in my area that do the ponseti method. She told my peds.

> office that 2 doctors in Philadelphia, PA at CHOPS and 1 doctor at

St.

> 's in PA use the method...AND THEY DON " T!! I just don't

> get the insurance company! I called and left her a message that if

> they say they do they probably are lying or do there own variation

> just like Collin's dr. did at Dupont when he was little. He told

me

> several times he uses the Ponseti method and so did the residents,

> etc. I just don't understand why these doctors don't fess up and

say

> I do my own variation of the ponseti method but I am not listed as

a

> qualifed ponseti doctor, etc... She supposedly called both

hospitals

> and they said yes and gave her appoinments dates we could go to.

I'm

> even angrier because I was already told it was fine for us to go,

now

> I find out that this lady is trying to get us denied. Ok, I'll

stop

> with the angry vent for now...but it feels a bit better to get it

out.

>

> MIchele

[Guest guest]

Hi Elissa,

I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, and thank you for

understanding that it is a personal issue that I'm having, I'm

deffianlty not trying to hurt anyones feelings or bash anyone. I

just get mad because I do know they don't always follow it to a T.

There was a case on here before of antohter local family who went to

CHOP and I'll have to find the posts but something about they put

her under anestisia to do a release and ended up doing more or

releasing more onece in there. They thought this was the same exact

procedure of how it is done by Ponseti method, but it wasn't, it is

usually not that involved for example and just an inoffice procdure

with no anestesia, etc. Dr. Ponseti's office hasn't gotten back to

me but I will post it deffianlty when I see what they say. Maybe

they do follow the Ponseti method now, and don't variate anymore,

etc. I agree though they are a good hospital and I understand the

rankings, etc I just didn't feel comfortable taking Collin there

for other reasons like how I thought they were variating, and we

have already had that problem at Dupont and Shriners. Please feel

free to e-mail me personally if you have any questions or I didn't

explain it right, I deffiantly am not here to start argurments or

hurt feelings, and again if I did touch a personal nerve I aplogize.

Michele Yoder

Collin's story at Http://www.geocities.com/chele323232

> Hi,

> I don't mean to cause any trouble because clearly this is a very

> important and personal issue, but I just wanted to mention that my

> daughter, now almost 2, has been treated at CHOP for her RCF since

> she was a week old. I have read all there is to read about the

> Ponseti method and it seems to me that CHOP has followed the

Method

> to a T. Do you know someone who had a bad experience there? Please

> tell me - I'd be very curious to know. CHOP was also just ranked

the

> best children's hospital in the country, and has held that

> distinction for a few years. We have felt confident throughout the

> entire treatment proces, and my daughter is a happy two year old

who

> walks, runs, and jumps and has never had any signs of a relapse or

> any other complications. I don't know why the docs there are not

> listed as officially Ponseti certified, but I plan to bring it up

at

> our next visit. Please let me know Dr. P's response to your email

> about CHOP.

> Thanks,

> Elissa

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Michele,

You did not offend or touch a personal nerve at all! In fact, I was

worried about doing the same to you in my post. Thank you for

interpreting it in the spirit in which it was meant - we are all here

to help each other.

I did go back and read the posts about Dr. son from a few years

ago (post #15079, thanks to ). We see Dr. Horn, who is Dr.

son's partner. I don't remember him saying anything

about " additional releasing once they're in there " . And she did not

have stitches after the tenotomy, which according to the old post, is

a sign that a posterior release was done. But you bet I am going to

clarify at our appt in a few weeks!

The bottom line is that your son should be treated where you feel the

most comfortable. I hope that your insurance situation works out in

your favor. And I will be very curious to hear Dr. P's reponse to the

treatment at CHOP, so please do keep me posted.

Best of luck.

Elissa

> > Hi,

> > I don't mean to cause any trouble because clearly this is a very

> > important and personal issue, but I just wanted to mention that

my

> > daughter, now almost 2, has been treated at CHOP for her RCF

since

> > she was a week old. I have read all there is to read about the

> > Ponseti method and it seems to me that CHOP has followed the

> Method

> > to a T. Do you know someone who had a bad experience there?

Please

> > tell me - I'd be very curious to know. CHOP was also just ranked

> the

> > best children's hospital in the country, and has held that

> > distinction for a few years. We have felt confident throughout

the

> > entire treatment proces, and my daughter is a happy two year old

> who

> > walks, runs, and jumps and has never had any signs of a relapse

or

> > any other complications. I don't know why the docs there are not

> > listed as officially Ponseti certified, but I plan to bring it up

> at

> > our next visit. Please let me know Dr. P's response to your email

> > about CHOP.

> > Thanks,

> > Elissa

> >

> >

> >