I have attached a large amount of information for those of you who wish to write letters to our state leaders. Our family hopes to help others who may be facing the same battles with their insurance company that mom did.
Contact Information
Governor Christine Gregoire
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Governor’s office (360)902-4111
Fax (360)753-4110
Congressman Rick Larsen
U.S. House of Representatives
107 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202)225-2605
Fax: (202)225-4420
US Senator Maria Cantwell
717 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3441
Fax: (202) 228-0514
US Senator Patty Murray
173 Russell Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
To file a complaint: 1-800-562-6900
Or write to:
Rep. Eileen Cody
Re: Health Care
337 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7978
Washington State Department of Health
General questions regarding health care: 1-(800)-525-0127
Mary Selecky
Secretary of Health
P.O. Box 47890
Olympia, WA 98504-7890
Phone: (360) 236-4501
Rep. Steve Kirby
Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee Chair
432 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7996
Stanwood Area Representatives
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen
407 Legislative Building
P.O. Box 40410
Olympia, WA 98504-0410
Phone: (360) 786-7618
Rep. Chris Strow
323 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7884
Rep. Barbara Bailey
405 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7914
Arlington Area Representative
Sen. Val Stevens
105 Irv Newhouse Building
P.O. Box 40439
Olympia, WA 98504-0439
Phone: (360) 786-1999
Rep. Dan Kristiansen
404 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7967
Marysville Area Representatives
Sen.Jean Berkey
103 Modular Building 1
P.O. Box 40438
Olympia, WA 98504-0438
Phone: (360) 786-7674
Rep. John McCoy
338 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7864
710 KIRO Newsradio
Dave Ross “The Dave Ross Show”
tnole@entercom.com
KOMO 1000 News
Kathi Goertzen
Kathi@komo4news.com
Ken Schram
komo4news.com
The following is a sample letter which may assist you in your letter writing process:
"I am writing to express my sincere concern regarding medical coverage decisions. I believe that a patient’s physician should determine what’s in the best interest of the patient. In particular, if a physician prescribes medication the person’s insurance carrier should pay for it.
I have recently become aware of a disturbing situation. A woman, not quite 50 years old, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her oncologist prescribed the drug Tarceva that in the doctor’s opinion would increase her survival chances. Unfortunately, Regence Blue Shield (the woman’s insurance carrier) refused to pay for the prescription.
I find this decision appalling, because it not only undermines the authority of the attending physician, but also pronounces a sure death sentence on the woman.
We buy insurance to cover health care costs. The decision by Regence Blue Shield undermines the purpose of insurance. This woman has been paying premiums to Blue Shield for all of her working life and now that she needs the insurance Blue Shield walks away.
I would ask that you please do all in your authority to ensure that insurance works as intended: to provide coverage when it’s needed. In a person’s most desperate hours, when her very survival is at stake, the last thing she needs is for her insurance carrier to counteract her physicians. The physician’s job is to heal."
Thank you for taking the time to write your letters and express your desire for change. My mom got her medications approved but it was only because she had many people on her side. Please help our family make a change. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at:
Angie
2 comments:
Doreen's uncle Richard (Dick) also was denied treatment for his non curable disease Idiopathy Pulmonary Fibrosis. We had to wait 3 months to get approved for the drug. Every year we have to go to the insurance company to get re-approved for this drug. You might say why not just pay for it yourself until approval. His drug cost $5,000 every 4 weeks. That alone is insane. It is horrible waiting to see if they will give your loved one a chance to live. Thank you for all the addresses and telephone numbers.
Sent the first message before I was finished with it. New to this blog thing. We love you Doreen and you WILL win this battle.
Post a Comment