Re: Any success with getting state funded programs to get approval?

November 17, 2000

So sorry to hear this and I wish I knew how to help u.....I know exactly

how u feel about ur brother.....We are hear to listen and do it so well so

anytime u need an ear .....u know where to find us

Kathy-NC

At 09:21 AM 11/17/00 -0000, you wrote:

>Hello,

>

>This is Terry Means. I was fortunate enough to have had the surgery

>by Dr. Rutledge, and have been very pleased with the results. I am

>writing in regard to my older brother. He lives in WV, and is

>getting to a 'point of no return'. He is weighing about 530 lbs, and

>is getting to where he cannot walk very far any more. The reason I

>am writing, is to see if anyone has had any cases that have been

>approved by any state Departments of Health and Human Resources. He

>has been disabled for several years now because of his weight, and

>has been on the welfare system since then.

>Have you heard of any successful candidates that have been approved

>by this type of medicare, or medicaid programs? (I am not for sure

>what he falls under for the medical insurance, he is only 29 years

>old.) I have wrote to the department head about this, and she

>informs me that the program for the state doesn't approve of any

>weight loss practices, including nutrition counseling, medications,

>and especially surgery. If you have had any success getting these

>type of programs to go through, can you give me some tips on getting

>my brother approved. He is really getting helpless, and I don't have

>another spare $12,000 to pay for it for him.

>I wrote the Department of Health and Resources back, and explained to

>them that there has to be exeptions to every rule, and am hoping to

>get a response back from them. You know, it is kind of sad to see

>him get this big and helpless, but it is even more sad to see the

>state watch him die away.

>Maybe if you have heard of any special case programs that I might be

>able to get to help him get some self confidence back, so that we can

>get him on a track of helping himself a little to get him through

>these tough times. I really think he is getting to a point where

>rational talking with him about his weight loss is not even helping

>matters. More of a depressive state, and he is already on an anti-

>depressant (at max dose).

>I guess I had better stop now, before I start getting more

>depressed. I just hope to find some kind of help for him before he

>becomes bed rest.

>Thanks for being an ear to listen.

>

>Sincerely

>

>Terry Means

>tsmeans@...

>

November 17, 2000