Letter to Representative Susan Fisher: Fisherla@ncleg.net
Marsha V. Hammond, PhD: Clinical Licensed Psychologist, Asheville/ Waynesville, NC
e mail: hammondmv@netzero.com cell: 404 964 5338
RE: NC Department of INsurance cannot see past the song & dance of BCBSNC re: screening colonoscopies
November 24, 2008
Dear Susan Fisher, my NC House of Representatives person:
There are still no screening colonoscopies for citizens of western NC w/ BCBSNC insurance plans....2.5 million of us across the state. Most lately, the NC Department of Insurance has fallen for their song and dance which seems to be associated with coverage, but in fact, is not.
To make it all the more hilarious, BCBSNC just sent me a letter suggesting that I have a screening colonoscopy!
I talked to the insurance commissioner's office, specifically, Doris Edwine, tel 919 807 6773. I wrote her a letter.
BCBSNC simply sent her a list of the gastroenterologists in Buncombe county. As I have done before, I called them. They told me what they have told me before, namely that their practices will not do office based screening colonoscopies. They do only clinic based screening colonoscopies...like they told me a year ago.
I have been researching this for a year now (please see the blog which does not reflect the six months prior to the first post in June, 2008). Nothing has changed. I would like to know what the NC State Legislature which oversees BCBSNC is going to do about this.
BCBSNC PPO will not pay for clinic based screening colonoscopies and the gastroenterologists will not do the office based ones, I assume, as associated w/ the risk of having a patient move around on the table and then puncturing their colon which means that ---literally----you better have created your will cause you're a dead person.
My file number: 2008-10-01135.
It would be useful to have my NC State Representative check on this matter, I believe.
Thank you.
Marsha V. Hammond, PhD
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