Re: Re: Thoughtful House

[Guest guest]

WOW

M. GuppyMy autism journey isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.... Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

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Subject: Re: Thoughtful HouseTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 10:59 AM

I don't comment a lot because I haven't done much yet (still trying to learn more about what to do). But I saw this post on another list and thought it may be of interest. Can't speak to the content, but thought I would pass it along.>>In the winter issue of Spectrum Magazine there is a letter to the editor. Here is the text of the letter:To the Editor:I found your last edition covering "biomedical intervention" very interesting. I have a son who has autism and biomedical intervention has been an issue of interest to many parents. As a "desperate" mother who will try anything to "cure" autism, I had taken my son to CARE Clinic's outreach clinic at the end of May 2008 when they did a workshop in Tampa. When I inquired in advance, the representative said that the cost of the blood test would be free (covered) if I had PPO insurance. She said it would cost $2,000 if I use

BlueCross, however, it will be free if I had Aetna PPO. At that time, I had Aetna HMO so I quickly changed it to PPO so that my son's blood test would be covered and cost me nothing.To make a long story short – I had no clue how much CARE Clinics charged for the blood test until I looked at my claim activity in September – lines and lines of claims, totaling $82,000. I almost fell from my chair. By the time I knew that, Aetna already had paid $63,000 out of that invoice.Quickly I called CARE's founder, Kazuko. What she explained to me was that they bill Aetna (and other insurers) so that treatments they are planning to do (which are not covered) are paid. There were days of services where I never even went there. I reported that to Aetna after I consulted with an attorney.I am just fed up with people who try to take advantage of desperate parents. Yes, if parents want to try

chelation or oxygen therapy, that decision is made by the parents. Hopefully it will cure autism, but I do not want to be part of this crime. $63,000 should cover how many chelation treatments? How many oxygen chamber hours? Now I know why our insurance premiums go up every year, because of practitioners like CARE Clinics who get millions of dollars. $63,000 for a blood test is a pretty expensive lesson to learn. The money may not have come out of my pocket, but indirectly it did. Part of that money probably went to the aggressive advertising campaign in your magazine.I am tired of doctors and people who are taking advantage of us. I am really sick and tired of that.Kimiko Inoue>>> >> > Hello all. I have been taking my 5 1/2 yr old son (HFA) to Dr.> > Caldwell in Conroe for biomedical intervention for about a year. He> > has made strides, but is on a lot of supplements. I'm considering> > taking him to Thoughtful House for another opinion. I know many of you> > have gone there and I'd like any input/opinion you'd care to share.> > Thanks!> >> >>

[Guest guest]

If that's true, that's fraud.

I know a lot of people on this list use Care Clinics and are happy with it

but I always wondered how can they afford all these flashy brochures and

catalogues I receive in the mail.

I still don't understand how the insurance pays something that over and

beyond the customary charge.

This is all too confusing and too " fishy " to me.

Re: Thoughtful House

I don't comment a lot because I haven't done much yet (still trying

to learn more about what to do). But I saw this post on another list

and thought it may be of interest. Can't speak to the content, but

thought I would pass it along.

>>In the winter issue of Spectrum Magazine there is a letter to the

editor. Here is the text of the letter:

To the Editor:

I found your last edition covering " biomedical intervention " very

interesting. I have a son who has autism and biomedical intervention

has been an issue of interest to many parents.

As a " desperate " mother who will try anything to " cure " autism, I had

taken my son to CARE Clinic's outreach clinic at the end of May 2008

when they did a workshop in Tampa. When I inquired in advance, the

representative said that the cost of the blood test would be free

(covered) if I had PPO insurance. She said it would cost $2,000 if I

use BlueCross, however, it will be free if I had Aetna PPO. At that

time, I had Aetna HMO so I quickly changed it to PPO so that my son's

blood test would be covered and cost me nothing.

To make a long story short - I had no clue how much CARE Clinics

charged for the blood test until I looked at my claim activity in

September - lines and lines of claims, totaling $82,000. I almost

fell from my chair. By the time I knew that, Aetna already had paid

$63,000 out of that invoice.

Quickly I called CARE's founder, Kazuko. What she explained to me was

that they bill Aetna (and other insurers) so that treatments they are

planning to do (which are not covered) are paid. There were days of

services where I never even went there. I reported that to Aetna

after I consulted with an attorney.

I am just fed up with people who try to take advantage of desperate

parents. Yes, if parents want to try chelation or oxygen therapy,

that decision is made by the parents. Hopefully it will cure autism,

but I do not want to be part of this crime. $63,000 should cover how

many chelation treatments? How many oxygen chamber hours? Now I know

why our insurance premiums go up every year, because of practitioners

like CARE Clinics who get millions of dollars.

$63,000 for a blood test is a pretty expensive lesson to learn. The

money may not have come out of my pocket, but indirectly it did. Part

of that money probably went to the aggressive advertising campaign in

your magazine.

I am tired of doctors and people who are taking advantage of us. I am

really sick and tired of that.

Kimiko Inoue

>>

> >

> > Hello all. I have been taking my 5 1/2 yr old son (HFA) to Dr.

> > Caldwell in Conroe for biomedical intervention for about a year.

He

> > has made strides, but is on a lot of supplements. I'm considering

> > taking him to Thoughtful House for another opinion. I know many

of you

> > have gone there and I'd like any input/opinion you'd care to

share.

> > Thanks!

> >

> >

>

------------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Take "Thoughtful House" off your header before passing this around. Many people get CARE clinics and Thoughtful House mixed up - they are close to each other in Austin but Thoughtful House is run by Dr. Jepson and they would never do something like this. We are patients of TH and I can't say enough good things. Sad to hear about CARE clinics - we need all the good and honest people we can get helping these kids.

Re: Thoughtful HouseTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 10:59 AM

I don't comment a lot because I haven't done much yet (still trying to learn more about what to do). But I saw this post on another list and thought it may be of interest. Can't speak to the content, but thought I would pass it along.>>In the winter issue of Spectrum Magazine there is a letter to the editor. Here is the text of the letter:To the Editor:I found your last edition covering "biomedical intervention" very interesting. I have a son who has autism and biomedical intervention has been an issue of interest to many parents. As a "desperate" mother who will try anything to "cure" autism, I had taken my son to CARE Clinic's outreach clinic at the end of May 2008 when they did a workshop in Tampa. When I inquired in advance, the representative said that the cost of the blood test would be free (covered) if I had PPO insurance. She said it would cost $2,000 if I use BlueCross, however, it will be free if I had Aetna PPO. At that time, I had Aetna HMO so I quickly changed it to PPO so that my son's blood test would be covered and cost me nothing.To make a long story short – I had no clue how much CARE Clinics charged for the blood test until I looked at my claim activity in September – lines and lines of claims, totaling $82,000. I almost fell from my chair. By the time I knew that, Aetna already had paid $63,000 out of that invoice.Quickly I called CARE's founder, Kazuko. What she explained to me was that they bill Aetna (and other insurers) so that treatments they are planning to do (which are not covered) are paid. There were days of services where I never even went there. I reported that to Aetna after I consulted with an attorney.I am just fed up with people who try to take advantage of desperate parents. Yes, if parents want to try chelation or oxygen therapy, that decision is made by the parents. Hopefully it will cure autism, but I do not want to be part of this crime. $63,000 should cover how many chelation treatments? How many oxygen chamber hours? Now I know why our insurance premiums go up every year, because of practitioners like CARE Clinics who get millions of dollars. $63,000 for a blood test is a pretty expensive lesson to learn. The money may not have come out of my pocket, but indirectly it did. Part of that money probably went to the aggressive advertising campaign in your magazine.I am tired of doctors and people who are taking advantage of us. I am really sick and tired of that.Kimiko Inoue>>> >> > Hello all. I have been taking my 5 1/2 yr old son (HFA) to Dr.> > Caldwell in Conroe for biomedical intervention for about a year. He> > has made strides, but is on a lot of supplements. I'm considering> > taking him to Thoughtful House for another opinion. I know many of you> > have gone there and I'd like any input/opinion you'd care to share.> > Thanks!> >> >>