Re: Update on , aka: Doodle Bug!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm so glad he is improving now! I'm curious how they handle the cost.

Is the 2nd band free, or did the original ortho refund the $ (only if

you're comfortable sharing).

-christine

sydney 2.5 yrs starband grad

>

> Okay, about idk, 2.5 or 3mo ago, got his first STARband. He

> wore it for ten weeks, starting when he was 7.5mo old. It turned out

> that is wasn't fitted properly and there was no change in his

> measurements except that his head grew/got bigger, of course. The

> prominent side grew just as much as the flat spot which shouldn't be

> possible in the helmet. We were very compliant, followed the rules and

> stuff. It just wasn't working. So, told me about the Brace

> Shop at UNC hospital in Chapel Hill NC. We went there and he started

> all over again with a brand new helmet that he's had for three weeks

> now. When we started treatment in Chapel Hill, had 11mm of

> flatness (difference in measurements of diagonals). It is now down to

> 6mm. His head didn't grow too much the past two weeks, but it will and

> hopefully now that we have a new helmet, it will grow rounder. I'm

> really weary of him wearing the helmet. He does fine, but it's really

> hot here in NC and if the first one had worked, he'd be probably over

> half way or almost done. Errr! But, anyway. He's making progress

> now. Thanks to everyone who helped me decide to make the change! You

> guys rock! Ttyl,

>

[Guest guest]

Hey ! No prob. The first band was fitted in Greenville,

NC. is covered by Medicaid right now. When we first started,

I gave the hospital his Medicaid info and I've never gotten a bill.

When I first went to UNC, they told me that NC Medicaid didn't cover

orthotic helmets at all. That they were all billed under one code

which was a one time pay for helmet and all treatment with one

payment (usually around $3000.00). She said that I may want to be

aware that I could be getting a bill from the first hospital because

she has never heard of NC Medicaid paying for the helmets. So, I

called PCMH and they said that NC Medicaid had made two payments

toward his account and that we owe nothing. I have no idea what they

billed it as or if it was on the up-and-up or not, but they say we

don't owe them any money. UNC has a Charity Care system where

usually if a child is covered by Medicaid and there is a treatment

that they are documented as needing that Medicaid will not pay for,

they will. So, we have been really blessed not to have to pay

anything for either helmet so far. Thanks for responding! Speaking

of , he's waking up now, so I've got to go. I'll try to catch

up with the board later! Bye bye!

> >

> > Okay, about idk, 2.5 or 3mo ago, got his first STARband.

He

> > wore it for ten weeks, starting when he was 7.5mo old. It turned

out

> > that is wasn't fitted properly and there was no change in his

> > measurements except that his head grew/got bigger, of course.

The

> > prominent side grew just as much as the flat spot which shouldn't

be

> > possible in the helmet. We were very compliant, followed the

rules and

> > stuff. It just wasn't working. So, told me about the

Brace

> > Shop at UNC hospital in Chapel Hill NC. We went there and he

started

> > all over again with a brand new helmet that he's had for three

weeks

> > now. When we started treatment in Chapel Hill, had 11mm

of

> > flatness (difference in measurements of diagonals). It is now

down to

> > 6mm. His head didn't grow too much the past two weeks, but it

will and

> > hopefully now that we have a new helmet, it will grow rounder.

I'm

> > really weary of him wearing the helmet. He does fine, but it's

really

> > hot here in NC and if the first one had worked, he'd be probably

over

> > half way or almost done. Errr! But, anyway. He's making

progress

> > now. Thanks to everyone who helped me decide to make the

change! You

> > guys rock! Ttyl,

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to thank you so much for sharing. My 3 month old son has been

diagnosed with severe Plagio/Brach which occured in utero. I had felt so

hopeless, didn't know how I would afford a helmet for my son (single mom,

medicaid). Thanks to your post and a little leg work, my son is being fitted

Monday @UNC Brace Shop, no upfront cost and balance to be paid by Charity Care!

I am near tears now with joy knowing my sweet baby will get the help he needs

and it might not have happened without your information and this INCREDIBLE

group

Bless you all!

> > >

> > > Okay, about idk, 2.5 or 3mo ago, got his first STARband.

> He

> > > wore it for ten weeks, starting when he was 7.5mo old. It turned

> out

> > > that is wasn't fitted properly and there was no change in his

> > > measurements except that his head grew/got bigger, of course.

> The

> > > prominent side grew just as much as the flat spot which shouldn't

> be

> > > possible in the helmet. We were very compliant, followed the

> rules and

> > > stuff. It just wasn't working. So, told me about the

> Brace

> > > Shop at UNC hospital in Chapel Hill NC. We went there and he

> started

> > > all over again with a brand new helmet that he's had for three

> weeks

> > > now. When we started treatment in Chapel Hill, had 11mm

> of

> > > flatness (difference in measurements of diagonals). It is now

> down to

> > > 6mm. His head didn't grow too much the past two weeks, but it

> will and

> > > hopefully now that we have a new helmet, it will grow rounder.

> I'm

> > > really weary of him wearing the helmet. He does fine, but it's

> really

> > > hot here in NC and if the first one had worked, he'd be probably

> over

> > > half way or almost done. Errr! But, anyway. He's making

> progress

> > > now. Thanks to everyone who helped me decide to make the

> change! You

> > > guys rock! Ttyl,

> > >

> >

>