The Modesto Bee Ken Carlson column
The federal program for Americans age 65 and older denied payment for an ambulance transport between
Golden said he has spent hours and hours on the phone with
"My frustration level is beyond anything I ever experienced," he said. "My mom is 85 and she can't deal with this. It seems like it's a real disservice to the patient."
His mother is on a restricted income and is unable to pay, he said.
Golden has received some guidance from the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program of
As he goes through the different steps, Golden may eventually have an appeal hearing via telephone with an administrative law judge. The three-way connection could include a judge on the
It seems, however, the issue could be settled without going to that trouble.
A
Golden will have to show that his father needed nursing assistance in the ambulance, Dotson said. He has seen
Those appealing a
At any given time, the local HICAP office is helping three or four
For those needing transportation upon release from the hospital, Dotson advised not to rely solely on hospital staff's opinion on whether the transportation is covered.
Bee staff writer
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