Re: Hanger vs. Cranial Tech. in NJ

February 19, 2010

just had his evaluation and scanning today at Hanger. I don't have anything else to compare to but I was very impressed with our orthotist. He has 14 years of experience doing cranial bands (but he does do other things too - he specializes in pediatric orthotics). He actually gave me his opinions about DOCband... basically he said that DOCband was the first but that the other technologies have now caught up and they're all just as good now. Of course, maybe he's just saying that because he doesn't work with them. One advantage with Hanger is that they use a laser scanner to get a computer image of the child's head. They don't do casting in most cases, so it's much less traumatic (for the child and parent). Their bands can also come pre-decorated, which

is pretty neat. 's is going to be blue & white swirls. They had all kinds of choices (soccer balls, camo, flowers, teddy bears, etc). Another advantage with Hanger is that they're much cheaper. If our insurance denies it, we are going to pay the contract rate, which is $1500 total., 6 months, torticollis & plagiocephalyGetting cranial band on 3/1/2010From: achacko101 <achacko101@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Fri,

February 19, 2010 5:39:15 PMSubject: Hanger vs. Cranial Tech. in NJ

Hi...

My son is 5 months old with plagiocephaly. We live in NJ. I had an evaluation with Cranial Tech in Paramus but they are out of network. I was very impressed with them and have read good reviews. I was told that Hanger Prosth. is in my network but I wanted to know if anyone has experience with them and if they would be recommended. I have to call to make an appointment but I really dont want to waste time. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance

February 19, 2010

CT in Paramus doesn't cast anymore. They use a DSi scanner that can shows your

child's head in mutli-dimensional images. I think it's even better than the

STARscanner because, in my opinion, it is more accurate in visual improvement.

GAP used this technology in their swing dancing commercials a few years back.

Multiple cameras take a digital picture of your child's head and the results can

be rotated to show every little angle of your child's head.

That being said, if the Hanger orthotist is well trained and has a huge amount

of experience, your banding process should go well. At CT, there was never any

doubt or question about my son's treatment. They were amazing.

Mom to Luke, 15 months old

STARband grad 6/09

DOCband grad 12/09

plagio & brachy

NYC

>

> just had his evaluation and scanning today at Hanger. I don't have

anything else to compare to but I was very impressed with our orthotist. He has

14 years of experience doing cranial bands (but he does do other things too - he

specializes in pediatric orthotics). He actually gave me his opinions about

DOCband... basically he said that DOCband was the first but that the other

technologies have now caught up and they're all just as good now. Of course,

maybe he's just saying that because he doesn't work with them.

>

> One advantage with Hanger is that they use a laser scanner to get a computer

image of the child's head. They don't do casting in most cases, so it's much

less traumatic (for the child and parent). Their bands can also come

pre-decorated, which is pretty neat. 's is going to be blue & white

swirls. They had all kinds of choices (soccer balls, camo, flowers, teddy

bears, etc). Another advantage with Hanger is that they're much cheaper. If

our insurance denies it, we are going to pay the contract rate, which is $1500

total.

>

> , 6 months, torticollis & plagiocephaly

> Getting cranial band on 3/1/2010

>

> ________________________________

> From: achacko101 <achacko101@...>

> Plagiocephaly

> Sent: Fri, February 19, 2010 5:39:15 PM

> Subject: Hanger vs. Cranial Tech. in NJ

>

> Hi...

>

> My son is 5 months old with plagiocephaly. We live in NJ. I had an evaluation

with Cranial Tech in Paramus but they are out of network. I was very impressed

with them and have read good reviews. I was told that Hanger Prosth. is in my

network but I wanted to know if anyone has experience with them and if they

would be recommended. I have to call to make an appointment but I really dont

want to waste time. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance

>

February 19, 2010

My almost 7 month old daughter is getting her Hanger helmet next week.

She has mild plagio. They are our only option where we live.

Unfortunately, their office is far from impressive and although she

seems knowlegable our ortho is not very experienced. What she told us

about the Docband is the technologies are basically the same but they

just have more opennings around the non-pressure areas. She also said

the same thing can be done with Hanger helmet if we insist but she

prefer to have it close in order to prevent bacteria and such. This

last part didn't make much sense to me but she hopefully knows her

stuff...

One thing I want to mention is the cost: the total cost of the helmet

is $2500!!! Its 1000 more than NJ. I talked to their account manager

and talked to me for 15min and basically sd location makes a

difference. As I said they are the only option within 150 miles. We

will end up paying 30% after our $500 deductible, which comes back to

almost full price in NJ. We will likely get a dicount because we are

down to single income athis moment.

One last thing, my dd scan was done last Friday. It was suppose to

arrive today but they said it will arrive next Tuesday but the

earliest appointment is next Friday. So, there will be 2 weeks between

the scan and the fitting. I am a little worried about this. Is there

anybody experienced about this? Will it be a problem that she got her

fitting a week late?

Appreciate your comments.

Thanks...

Sevin

Mother to 7 month old Eda Su

On 2/19/10, maryleahmaryleah <maryleahmaryleah@...> wrote:

> Hello

>

> My daughter is almost six months old and she has brachycephaly.

> We went for an evaluation at Cranial Technologies about two weeks ago and I

> was also very impressed. Unfortunately, Cranial Technologies is not

> in-network under our United Health Care policy.

>

> Since the evaluation, I have been trying to educate myself on

> brachycephaly as well as trying to understand what our insurance will and

> will not cover.

>

> In my research, I have learned that there is a New Jersey Mandate on

> Prosthetic and Orthotic devices. Basically, this means even if your

> insurance does not normally cover a helmet/band they are obligated to follow

> this New Jersey Mandate as long as they continue to be a Health Care

> provider in NJ.

>

> So, we can use Cranial Technologies, but they will only cover the

> treatment/band at an out of network rate and after our deductible has been

> met.

>

> We located an in-netwok provider Nouveau Prosthetics and Orthotics located

> in Hazlet and town. We went to Hazlet for an initial consultation

> today. They use the Starband. They are in-network and the cost of the

> treatment would be covered 100% after our $250 deductible.

>

> The orthotist was very knowledgable and had lots of experience. Certainly

> someone I would recommend. I'm just not sure about the helmet. It seemed a

> bit more bulky with less opened area for venting.

>

> My husband and I still need to talk through our options over the weekend. My

> gut is that we may wind up using Cranial Technologies even though it will

> cost us alot more. I think the treatment will also be a quicker process with

> the Doc band 2-4 months vs 3-6 with the Starband.

>

> Unfortunately, I don't really have any first hand information about the

> Hanger Band. I do know that it is alot less expensive. I guess my only

> question would be why is it so much less expensive?

>

> Hope some of my information/experience is of help???

>

>>

>> Hi...

>>

>> My son is 5 months old with plagiocephaly. We live in NJ. I had an

>> evaluation with Cranial Tech in Paramus but they are out of network. I was

>> very impressed with them and have read good reviews. I was told that

>> Hanger Prosth. is in my network but I wanted to know if anyone has

>> experience with them and if they would be recommended. I have to call to

>> make an appointment but I really dont want to waste time. Any feedback is

>> greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance

>>

>

--

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February 20, 2010

Ideally, your child will be fit with the band within 14 days of the

casting/scanning date to assure proper fit and function so you shouldn't

have any problems getting it at the two week mark.

It is not unusual to see cost variations for both the Hanger band and

STARband. The orthos that use these products get them from one central

location so the cost of the actual band is the same but then you have to

take into account where you are living and how much the cost of the ortho

is. What you pay an ortho in NJ may be very different than what an ortho is

paid where you are, based on the cost of living.

Molly

Novato, California

Nicolas, 4, tort & plagio, STARband (CIRS Oakland) 4/24/06-9/12/06,

Graduate!

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