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Friday, January 02, 2009 nanette asks

Q: expander permanently/hurts and prob not legal hospital wont remove expander /giving up hope only 45

had masectomy 2007, port and expander still in hospital, broward general ft lauderdale fl refusing to give me an implant, say they will ONLY remove the port it hurts and is TEMPORARY right???????????????? how can they get away with this???????????

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1/ 2/09 7:01pm

Nanette, is there no social services department at the hospital you can go to? Any patient advocate or patient navigator program? Please start with social services, and ask about advocate or navigator programs. If they say there isn't such a thing, just present to them - plainly, and calmly, without anger if you can manage it - what your situation is, and what you want done about it. Hopefully that will get the process moving. Good luck to you - PJH

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1/ 3/09 7:08pm

Nanette - they cannot do that!  You must go through a plastic surgeon, only a PS can put in implants and perform reconstruction surgery - it is NOT up to the hospital.  Go through your surgeon and you PS will get approval from your insurance company - they are the ones who decide and approve procedures NOT the hospital.  Talk with your insurance company and ask them why this hospital is denying the procedure, because legally they cannot.  Someone is not giving you accurate info and my bet is on the hospital.  You need  to take charge and go directly through your insurance and push this along.  They CANNOT do this to you.  Remember, do not deal with the hospital, just your insurance.  Talk to someone in charge, find someone on the plan, and follow your benefits.  Actually if you look at your policy coverage it will spell out what is and isn't covered for your plan, then factor in the federal act for women who have had mastectomies which explains what services they must offer.  Talk with your insurance and let me know, ok.  I'm sure they will straighten this out.  Till then be calm cause being upset does not help matters, ok!

Take care!

Angi

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