March 11 Update

Hi Everyone

Sorry for the delay: I know it adds to the suspense.  When the cardiologist office sent me to the hospital Wednesday just before lunch they were going to send us to the ER at Chambersburg.  Knowing we had a $350 or $450 co-pay for an ER admission I asked for a “direct admit” status hoping that would save us hours in the ER and save a few bucks at the same time.  I got what I asked for and it seemed all was well.

When I was in the hospital before, the hospital’s pharmacy used/had different meds than I was used to and the one big one is a sticky capsule a few places where the ones at home are more like a tablet on the outside even though they are a big capsule size.

My Injectible IV antibiotics are already bought and paid for and I have all I need through next week when the I.D. Doctors are allowing me to be done with IV Injectables.  We asked permission to use what we had for medication just to make things easier.  At first we were told “Relax, take our meds; it doesn’t cost you any more”.  They did allow us to keep a few of my pills from home on my “menu” but insisted they supply hospital antibiotics for my 3 daily injections.

Yesterday morning I got a page saying I was classified as an “Observation Patient” which bills as an outpatient and the normal hospital admission copay no longer does the trick.  The nurse that spoke to us about it explained it and she was very nice; that being said I only retained that she said my “condition didn’t warrant a hospital stay”.  I was very confused as was Rita since we never asked for a “hospital stay” but were given one anyways.  I asked why a guy 3 weeks out from major heart surgery with afib hitting 200 beats per minute didn’t qualify and I believe she said it was more about “how the doctor coded it up”.  The cardiologist we (I) see is a group of doctors.  We saw Dr C when we got checked in (a couple hours after being “admitted”) on Wednesday.  Wayne stopped for a visit Wednesday evening and he prayed that I would have results with the meds and not need a TEE and a “cardioversion” with the shock paddles.  Thank God I converted just after midnight Thurssday; one more answer to prayer.

On Thursday morning we got to meet Dr F and she was thinking of keeping me til today just to make sure the sinus rhythm continued.  I tried to be as sweet as pie and talk her into cutting me loose Thursday.  She countered saying I needed to be on the new med on an IV drip for 24 hours and I said “Yeah but that’s only through 4 pm and you could start me in an oral dose now to get the level building”.  I wasn’t sure how my plea was received but in the mean time Dr F spoke of Philly as she saw my pillow from UPenn.  We had a nice conversation and I was hoping for the best.  After Dr F left, it wasn’t long til Judy from their group showed up.  First thing I said was “You’re here to cut me loose right?” And of course she laughed and said she was working on it.  Not long after that, they showed up with a pill for me to take.

I called our contact at Federal Blue Cross and determined that under the “Observation Status” we are responsible for 15% of the billable allowance on every line item and my heart rate started going up.  Later on Dr F came back and I mentioned the “Observation Status”.  She said it WAS a necessary hospital stay and that she’d fix it in the computer.  We weren’t trying to defraud the insurance company we just wanted it coded “truthfully”. I’m sure that will all get sorted out.  Dr F was great to work with and she even got me on the street by 4pm.

We dropped off prescriptions and then came home.  The weather has been just glorious this week and I couldn’t wait to get outside when I got home.  I asked Rita, “The doctor said I could return to  my normal activities right?…”

Yeah

“No restrictions?”

Nope…

“Wanna go for a walk?” 😀

So we walked a mile before supper and then popped in to see Rita’s mom.

Today so far we walked 2.5 miles; I got over 7000 steps.  One day before long I hope to work back up to 10,000 plus.

We continue to be uplifted by the cards and upheld by the prayers and we thank all of you for your love and support.  God is good; all the time.

Sam