- T
On Saturday September 22nd, our father Arnold Bradshaw had a hemorrhagic stroke in the center left side of his brain in his home in Ithaca, NY. Hemorrhagic strokes tend to have a more serious initial affects than ischemic strokes. He has a long recovery road ahead to get back the ability to walk, but the doctors and therapists at STRONG Memorial Hospital seem hopeful.
His Neurological doctor, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational/ Physical Therapists, and Speech therapists agreed he is an ideal candidate for acute in-patient rehabilitation (3 hours of mandatory, intensive therapy a day, while having continued 24/7 medical supervision) due to pre-existing heart and blood-pressure issues. We were accepted for a bed and program at Cayuga Medical Center who submitted it to his Excellus BCBS insurance, who then denied the claim.
They denied the claim because they deemed his need for 24/7 medical attention not necessary, even with his fluctuating health. A stroke victim's rehabilitation process tone is set in the first two weeks of the attack with the therapies that are administered. Acute in-patient rehabs are the only programs that can guarantee the 3 hours that everyone in Strong Memorial Hospital feel so...strongly about.
We have been fighting the insurance companies virtually nonstop, and the chances of an appeal seem to be thinning. Regardless of this, his rehab must start as soon as possible.
We have many expenses accruing. Other than a possible out-of-pocket therapist and bills from missing work, his home is not suitable for his current state. This includes a ramp and making his bathroom handicap-accessible, an antenna cable installation for a landline and internet, and repair of his oil furnace for the winter.
I've been told by the Neurology Department here that insurance claims for stroke victims have been denied for similar reasons to the patients' detriments in recent months, and that appealing the claim will prevent my father to being transferred to a Nursing Home facility where he would receive only half of the therapies that the entire team following Arnold's case has claimed will be instrumental to his eventual recovery.
Arnold's trajectory is still up in the air due to his cardiac complications. We remain hopeful that we can appeal his admission to CMC, or get cleared for in-home care under his family and greater community's supervision.
No matter what, the road to recovery will be a long one for both Arnold and his caretakers. We have been collecting donations for a silent auction, benefit concert at The Range on the Ithaca Commons on October 19th. Many folks have asked for this gofundme page, as they will be unable to attend the benefit.
Anything helps, including non-monetary gifts- company, cooking, cleaning, clever jokes, and car rides are all things we are going to need to help ease this process.
Endless love and thanks to our incredibly gracious and supportive community, who have already our backs while the insurance company jerks us around, when time and rehabs are so critically connected. Dad is strong and we know in our hearts he can get through this, and make a full recovery.
Arnold's Benefit Concert: https://www.facebook.com/events/327118298054486/
Arnold's Artwork: https://www.facebook.com/shudabenfarm/
His Neurological doctor, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational/ Physical Therapists, and Speech therapists agreed he is an ideal candidate for acute in-patient rehabilitation (3 hours of mandatory, intensive therapy a day, while having continued 24/7 medical supervision) due to pre-existing heart and blood-pressure issues. We were accepted for a bed and program at Cayuga Medical Center who submitted it to his Excellus BCBS insurance, who then denied the claim.
They denied the claim because they deemed his need for 24/7 medical attention not necessary, even with his fluctuating health. A stroke victim's rehabilitation process tone is set in the first two weeks of the attack with the therapies that are administered. Acute in-patient rehabs are the only programs that can guarantee the 3 hours that everyone in Strong Memorial Hospital feel so...strongly about.
We have been fighting the insurance companies virtually nonstop, and the chances of an appeal seem to be thinning. Regardless of this, his rehab must start as soon as possible.
We have many expenses accruing. Other than a possible out-of-pocket therapist and bills from missing work, his home is not suitable for his current state. This includes a ramp and making his bathroom handicap-accessible, an antenna cable installation for a landline and internet, and repair of his oil furnace for the winter.
I've been told by the Neurology Department here that insurance claims for stroke victims have been denied for similar reasons to the patients' detriments in recent months, and that appealing the claim will prevent my father to being transferred to a Nursing Home facility where he would receive only half of the therapies that the entire team following Arnold's case has claimed will be instrumental to his eventual recovery.
Arnold's trajectory is still up in the air due to his cardiac complications. We remain hopeful that we can appeal his admission to CMC, or get cleared for in-home care under his family and greater community's supervision.
No matter what, the road to recovery will be a long one for both Arnold and his caretakers. We have been collecting donations for a silent auction, benefit concert at The Range on the Ithaca Commons on October 19th. Many folks have asked for this gofundme page, as they will be unable to attend the benefit.
Anything helps, including non-monetary gifts- company, cooking, cleaning, clever jokes, and car rides are all things we are going to need to help ease this process.
Endless love and thanks to our incredibly gracious and supportive community, who have already our backs while the insurance company jerks us around, when time and rehabs are so critically connected. Dad is strong and we know in our hearts he can get through this, and make a full recovery.
Arnold's Benefit Concert: https://www.facebook.com/events/327118298054486/
Arnold's Artwork: https://www.facebook.com/shudabenfarm/