DOC Band vs. Star Band

[Guest guest]

He have a Starband(2) Horror story and Cranial Tech has helped his

head shape so much. In my opinion hands down get a doc band.

Haylee

mom to Andre 21 months tort/doc band #1 22/11/05 doc band #2 21/6/06 &

Lesly 21 months

>

> All of this is so new to me. We went to see the doctor at

Children's

> hospital of Milwaukee (Wisconsin) They told us Ashlyn 6.5 months,

> will need a helmet. They prefer the STAR Band but there is the Doc

> band so now I am torn. Both are a 3 hour drive to get. Is there one

> better than the other. The doctor was saying they see better

results

> with the STAR. However i think it is just a kick back they could

get

> from the company. But who knows! I am just so Darn confused about

> the whole thing. If you can give me any advise on going about this

> situation that would be wonderful. Thankfully we have awesome

> insurance and they are picking up 90%. Thank you

>

[Guest guest]

Hello. The DOC band and the STARband are both considered to

be " active " bands. They actively redirect the growth of the baby's

head with the use of holding points and foam that is shaved out over

time as to allow for growth in the flatter areas.

Both bands have the potential to work the same and the potential to

have the same results... AS LONG as the Orthotist using the band has

experience with plagio and cranial bands. The experience of the

Orthotist is the real key in deciding which band and/or facility to

use. You should really base your decision more on the Orthotist

rather than on which active band is being used.

We used a Hanger Cranial Band (through Hanger Prosthetics and

Orthotics) and our Daughter got wonderful correction. Our Orthotist

was very experienced and wonderful. (the Hanger band is very much

like the STARband, in design).

Good luck with your decision and keep us updated.

Jen

(22.5 mo), tort resolved, Hanger Band Grad

(4 years)

PA

>

> All of this is so new to me. We went to see the doctor at

Children's

> hospital of Milwaukee (Wisconsin) They told us Ashlyn 6.5 months,

> will need a helmet. They prefer the STAR Band but there is the Doc

> band so now I am torn. Both are a 3 hour drive to get. Is there one

> better than the other. The doctor was saying they see better

results

> with the STAR. However i think it is just a kick back they could

get

> from the company. But who knows! I am just so Darn confused about

> the whole thing. If you can give me any advise on going about this

> situation that would be wonderful. Thankfully we have awesome

> insurance and they are picking up 90%. Thank you

>

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. My DD is 5.5 months right now and has right tort and

plagiocephaly. We've been to Cranial Technologies to get the free

assessment and she her asymmetry was 13mm for the cranial vault. We'd

like to get her banded but our insurance has denied our claim. We are

in the midst of appealing.

At the same time we scheduled our CT appt. we also scheduled one at

Children's with Dr. Vicari to be evaluated for the Star Band.

However, they can't get us in until mid-Dec. My question is... did

anyone else get evaluated by both specialists? What was the deciding

factor for choosing one company over the other? Also, what are your

thoughts about waiting another month to get the band? We have Humana

insurance and they will cover 90% of the band if we wait for

pre-authorization. If we go ahead without it and obtain it after the

fact they will only pay 50%. I have the feeling they are not going to

cover any of it though. $3,000 is a lot of money but we'll pay it

ourselves if need be. If we do though we'd like to know we made the

best choice for our child so if anyone has been to both places I'd

love to hear your input.

Thanks!

Colleen

[Guest guest]

At 5.5 mos., I think you are fine to wait another month. Our son

had 8mm assymetry and we banded at 7.5 months and got down to 3mm in

8 weeks time which is fast given the age. SO it truly depends on

your daughter's growth spurts and the severity. Since we started

late, we banded then appealed our insurance (UHC) and won. We chose

CT because that is who our doctor referred us to. I think the key

of the ortho/clinician is key. If CT is close to you, I highly

recommend them. Their staff is trained solely with banding babies.

Where other companies (but I'm not sure about Star) may do other

orhtotics so the experience may vary. Good luck in your decision.

PS: YOu may want to find out what they considered to be pre-

authorization. FOr us pre-authorization, was the phone call CT made

to them.

>

> Hi everyone. My DD is 5.5 months right now and has right tort and

> plagiocephaly. We've been to Cranial Technologies to get the free

> assessment and she her asymmetry was 13mm for the cranial vault.

We'd

> like to get her banded but our insurance has denied our claim. We

are

> in the midst of appealing.

>

> At the same time we scheduled our CT appt. we also scheduled one at

> Children's with Dr. Vicari to be evaluated for the Star Band.

> However, they can't get us in until mid-Dec. My question is... did

> anyone else get evaluated by both specialists? What was the

deciding

> factor for choosing one company over the other? Also, what are

your

> thoughts about waiting another month to get the band? We have

Humana

> insurance and they will cover 90% of the band if we wait for

> pre-authorization. If we go ahead without it and obtain it after

the

> fact they will only pay 50%. I have the feeling they are not

going to

> cover any of it though. $3,000 is a lot of money but we'll pay it

> ourselves if need be. If we do though we'd like to know we made

the

> best choice for our child so if anyone has been to both places I'd

> love to hear your input.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Colleen

>