Re: reply to Mike re s Hopkins/STEPHANIE/MIKE

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Secondary would work only IF there were no center in your current

state covered by your health plan to start the diet. Our problem was

that our epi did not want us to do the diet at the 2 centers here in

Florida - both were covered by our health insurance, but she did not

like their keto programs and did not feel comfortable with us going

there. She wanted us to go to either Hopkins or Boston Children's.

When we checked with Hopkins, they said that neither center in

Florida was following their protocol and they couldn't recommend

them. They agreed we should travel to them - told me that

normally, she would recommend a keto center following Hopkins

protocol nearby to a patient, but since there were none in Florida

and we had to travel anyway, she said just come to them.

In the end, it was our decision, and we could have stayed in-state,

but we decided to go to Hopkins, regardless of insurance denial. My

husband was very determined to go there because he had heard horror

stories of kids starting the diet elsewhere (non Hopkins trained) and

then having to try a second and third time at different places. He

and our epi agreed on one thing (I can't begin to tell you the

disagreements they had about the drugs!)- they wanted to do it right

the first time.

The insurance company did give us a very small amount of out-of-

network benefit. Total cost for us was about $3,500 or so--but we

also had to pay for all bloodwork and tests prior to starting - about

$500 worth--insurance denied it all, probably because the prescribing

physician was Freeman, out of state at Hopkins. I think that Hopkins

is very good with keto kids and the costs - they probably write off a

good amount, which is why our ending bills weren't so bad.

Carolyn

Mike

> > I called them and they asked that I send in all of Broc's

records,

> a picture

> > of Broc, a check for 150.00, a copy of our insurance card, and

a

> short

> > summary of Broc's medical history. The neuro at Hopkins

reviewed

> it and he

> > was accepted. Try calling Diane at . That's who I

> have spoken

> > to. Based on our conversations it didn't appear to me that us

> coming from

> > out of state was that uncommon.

> >

> > Mike

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From: kenai22000 [mailto:kenai22000@y...]

> > Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 10:29 AM

> > To: ketogenic

> > Subject: reply to Mike re s Hopkins

> >

> >

> > Mike,

> > Thanks for answering so quickly! I hope I am doing this reply

> > correctly. I am just learning....s Hopkins told my son's

> doctor

> > that they would not accept out of state patients. Then I

called

> > s Hopkins and was told the same thing. How did you get in?

> >

> >

> >

> > " The Ketogenic Diet....a realistic treatment option, NOT just

a

> last

> > resort! "

> >

> > List is for parent to parent support only.

> > It is important to get medical advice from a

> professional

> > keto team!

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> >

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> >

> >

> >

> >