Photo courtesy of Ryan Stockdale.org

"Unfortunately, we cannot go beyond what the law allows in our plan, but we can push hard to evaluate every possible option and we are doing just that."

But is that true?

The Truth Squad talked to Juliane Majette, Deputy Regional Director of the U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration Friday afternoon to find out. Majette says the government does not cap the amount a company can spend on an employee's medical bills.

A self-insured company like Omnipure, at a minimum, has to pay out the benefits laid out in it's health care plan, but there is no law saying the company can't pay more than what is covered in the agreement.

Majette says it is possible experimental procedures like deep-brain stimulation are not covered under Omnipure's health care plan, and the company is not obligated to pay for a procedure Karia Stockdale says could cost from $100,000 to $140,000.

Omnipure indicated as much in Friday's statement, saying:

Reid also said he is confident the trustees of the company’s health insurance plan can have this final appeal completed by next week (July 13-17).

Click the following link to read the complete Omnipure Statement

Stockdale family consultant Scott Turlington, of Principle Strategic Advisors, says he's encouraged by Omnipure's statement: ”We are encouraged that the Omnipure Plan Trustee’s are ‘committed to doing everything [they] possibly can…to address Ryan’s tragic health situation.’ The Stockdale’s remain extremely optimistic and are grateful the Plan Trustee’s also agree ‘further review is warranted.’ We look forward to a positive outcome for Ryan and are mindful that time is of the essence.” In 2007, the Middleton community rallied to give the Stockdale family an "Extreme Home Makeover." Early in July, Karia Stockdale said she's asking the community to rally around her family one more time - this time to save her husband's life.

"I didn't want to take this route," Karia said. "I really had a hard time with the public eye last time and I didn't really want to do this."

Ryan Stockdale suffers a cluster headache

Ryan has about 20 attacks a day.

"It's very difficult to watch and it's difficult for my kids to watch," Karia said on Thursday. "They ask, can daddy go play basketball with me? Want to go to a baseball game? Those kinds of things and he just can't do that anymore."

During the past year, Ryan has seen doctors across the county and has racked up $350,000 in medical expenses while trying more than 30 different experimental treatments.

Ryan's last hope is a procedure called deep brain stimulation - a surgery that costs up to $140,000. His insurance provider, MS Administrative, has denied his requests and appeals four times.

"I'm frustrated that it's been this long - we've been asking for this surgery a long while," she said. "It saddens me that we've gotten to this point."

Karia says they're facing one last resort. It's up to Omnipure, his former employer to decide if they will pay for the surgery. Omnipure has 60 days to respond to the appeal, but Ryan might not have that long.

"We've done everything in our power and this is the last resort," she said.

Click the following link to read the complete Omnipure Statement

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