[always-aching]

A couple weeks ago, my brother was working with my ex-husband and ended up in the ER because he had a grand mal seizure at Sam's Club. My ex-husband indicated that he noticed my brother twitching while they were in the store. When they went to check out, my brother told my ex-husband he was going to step outside to have a cigarette. My ex-husband started loading his items on the conveyor belt and saw my brother drop down to the floor in a matter of seconds and he was having a seizure.

The manager called the local EMS squad, they arrived, loaded him on a guerney and transported him to the ER. Once he was at the ER, they did the usual, checked his vitals, started an IV, ordered an MRI and before they would release him, placed him on a Dilantin drip for an hour. The Dilantin made my brother appear to be in a drunken state. The ER directed my brother to follow-up with a neurologist and gave him a prescription for Dilantin.

I saw the MRI report as it was mailed to my house and it indicated something about him having moderate to severe frontal symetical atropy which is unusual for a male of his age. My brother is only 44 years old.

My brother is homeless and lives with me. He really doesn't work, and only accompanies my ex-husband on jobs to keep him company. I've had my brother apply for disability under social security because I know he has severe emphysema from years of smoking. My brother is extremely frail. He's approximately 5'7" and weighs maybe 110 lbs. I've notice his memory isn't what it used to be and he has hearing difficulty. My brother also complains of having severe headaches all the time.

He had a seizure about nine years ago and as far as I know, he hasn't had any others until the one just recently. Epilepsy does run in my family. My mother had it, I had another brother who had severe epilepsy, which eventually took his life.

Until a decision is made on the disability, I had him apply for public assistance through the local Jobs and Family Services office. He will continue to receive medicaid and a direction card until a decision is made with the disability application process.

I thought medicaid would cover his expenses for medical, but I was wrong. My brother recently received a bill from the ER for the MRI and ER stay. I don't know how he is going to pay it. He truly needs to follow up with a neurologist and I don't think he wants to. Sometimes I don't think he understands the purpose of going to the doctors. And sometimes I don't think he wants to hear whether there is anything wrong.

Any suggestions. Right now, other than the public assistance he receives, I am his only means of support.

[pam*]

hi..
If you are sure your brother is covered by medical assistance, then the ER trip, as well as ambulance costs and testing should be covered. I would check with the hospitals billing department to make sure they submitted those charges to medical assistance. I know there have been times where I have been taken in by ambulance and I was not asked for my card, or just dont remember what happened, and I received a bill a few weeks later.

As far as disability goes, its important for him to see the neuro, and any other doctor if he has emphysema. The more visits he has documented the better his chances of getting approved for disability. I know it can be hard hearing what the docs have to say, but he really needs to have things documented so he can get the help he needs.

Take care !
Pam