[olecyn]

I'm sooooooo MAD
Called the attorneys ofice days ago to get a car up for the block since Master Ps back is out
No call backs from the defense, the adjuster.
My attorney calls me tonight telling me they wont send a car cause its more than 20-25 miles.
Dr. Jordan is the doc THEY recommended for the 5th EMG and ....
Hes the one who recommended the block besides 5 additional things
The ins co approved the block but only on the right side
I fought through my attorney the last 6 weeks to have it done bilterally but because Dr.J didnt put it in the report they are only going with one side.

In addition, they wont ok changing my PTD to Dr. Jordan due to the same reason.
20-25 miles is the cap.
I dont give a crap what they want
7 years battling and if my cancer comes back ...Its the stress of them denying me medical treatment
I wish every single one of the defense attorneys and insurance execs TOS

I'm so sick and tired of this crap
WHO IS THE NEAREST VODOO WITCHY PERSONTO CAST A SPELL ON THESE IDIOTS?

[tshadow]

There is no such thing as a 20 / 25 mile rule - in fact, they can make you go to a doc as far as 60 miles away, I believe, according to the Labor Code, or even farther, if they get a court order.

So fax your attorney that TOS is a rare condition, that there are few doctors who have the expertise to handle it, and that you place your trust in this doctor and you are aware that per the Labor Code and/or CCC, that the defense actually can require you to attend a doc up to 60 mile and re-state your request that they supply you with transportation to that doctor. If he refuses, I'd be surprised. If they refuse, or ignore, then it's time for an Expedited Hearing on the issues of changing your PTP and transport.

Good luck. Don't let them get away with this - this is baloney Cyn.

My personal opinions only.

[beth]

Cyn, I saw this after I posted wishing you the best tomorrow - this really stinks! Can you get Dr J to amend or update his report to reflect that the blocks should be done bilaterally?

Will his office deal with the ins co - I wd think his reputation and experience wd count for something! And no one bothered to tell you any of this ahead of time - I wouldn't think a judge wd be happy about that, seeing it IS the Dr they recommended you see for the last EMG.

GAMES!!! I'm sick of them, sure you are too. Ah well, you know the song that will be playing for them and their like on Judgement Day ...Disco Inferno

[olecyn]

YES, BETH
SICK AND TIRED

And just today I was doing my best to get my MS childhood girlfriend not to give up by looking on the positive things she has to offer so many. An hour and a half of tears, jeers, laughter and more tears. I was exhausted after the counseling session trying my bestest for her to use guided imagery.

I'm 3 hour drive and would be there in flashes if I could drive that.

TAM,
Isnt this crap INSANE?

I dont know if Phil is up to driving me, sitting there and driving home.
Do I cancel due to the stupidity of the defense attorney & Phils inability to physically be up to it all?
It would serve them right having to pay for a procedure the insurance company ok'd but denied transportation.

[olecyn]

STILL LOOKING.....

Originally Posted by tshadow

There is no such thing as a 20 / 25 mile rule - in fact, they can make you go to a doc as far as 60 miles away, I believe, according to the Labor Code, or even farther, if they get a court order.

So fax your attorney that TOS is a rare condition, that there are few doctors who have the expertise to handle it, and that you place your trust in this doctor and you are aware that per the Labor Code and/or CCC, that the defense actually can require you to attend a doc up to 60 mile and re-state your request that they supply you with transportation to that doctor. If he refuses, I'd be surprised. If they refuse, or ignore, then it's time for an Expedited Hearing on the issues of changing your PTP and transport.

Good luck. Don't let them get away with this - this is baloney Cyn.

My personal opinions only.

[Jomar]

I thought the 60 mile rule was mainly for IME/AME appts??
Does it apply to comp approved treatments too?
It's been a long time since I read up on that stuff and it was Oregon , not Ca.

how much would a Taxi ride cost to go to and from that appt?

What about senior or disabled transportation - do they have those in your area?
In Portland metro areas, seniors or disabled can get rides for about $2 or less.
here's a link about what is available in the Portland OR metro areas to give an idea about it-
http://www.rideconnection.org/servic...iceoptions.htm

[tshadow]

That's my point ladies - there is NO such mileage rule I know of applying to the applicant's CHOICE of a PTP and/or transport thereto that I am aware of in the LC or CCC. OF course, a "reasonableness" standard would apply if it were to go to a hearing - and then, I think the AME / QME (we don't have IMEs in CA) would be a measuring stick, since they can send "us" "so far"...see what I mean? This is all my guess, since I'm not in practice now.

Just my personal opinion, but I think this 20 - 25 thing was a bunch of hooey - someone didn't feel like asking the adjuster...? Or, the adjuster ignored them? Or, adjuster said "no" and attorney doesn't "feel" like doing an Expedited on the issue?

DID YOU ASK THAT PERSON WHERE IS THE LAW THAT 20 - 25 IS THE LIMIT FOR MED TRANSPORT??? MY OWN MED TRANSPORT HAS TAKEN ME AS FAR AS 70 MILES...

Yes, I would have SOMEONE take me, if push comes to shove...

At the same time, I'd do that fax, surely a fax to your OWN attorney is reasonable.

[olecyn]

Q. Can I get a new panel because the physicians on the panel are too far away?

A. We cannot replace the physicians if they are less than 50 miles away from your address. We cannot simply choose the closest physicians as the process must be random. The carrier will pay for the transportation costs.

Q. The panel of QMEs you issued are close to my home. However, can you give me a panel closer to work?

The Labor Code requires us to issue panels close to the residence. The IMC can issue a panel of QMEs close to the workplace if the carrier agrees with the request. (Labor Code 139.2 (h), IMC Reg. §31.5 (b)(2))

[olecyn]

DOES THIS FLY?
OR UST PERTAIN TO PERSONAL DRIVING MILEAGE??

(e) (1) When at the request of the employer, the employer's
insurer, the administrative director, the appeals board, or a workers'
compensation administrative law judge, the employee submits to
examination by a physician, he or she shall be entitled to receive,
in addition to all other benefits herein provided, all reasonable
expenses of transportation, meals, and lodging incident to reporting
for the examination, together with one day of temporary disability
indemnity for each day of wages lost in submitting to the
examination.
(2) Regardless of the date of injury, "reasonable expenses of
transportation" includes mileage fees from the employee's home to the
place of the examination and back at the rate of twenty-one cents
($0.21) a mile or the mileage rate adopted by the Director of the
Department of Personnel Administration pursuant to Section 19820 of
the Government Code, whichever is higher, plus any bridge tolls. The
mileage and tolls shall be paid to the employee at the time he or she
is given notification of the time and place of the examination.

[tshadow]

HUH? HUH? HUH? PANEL???????

Cyn, you have my new no., just give me a call tomorrow if you'd like to discuss...