Story Created: Jul 16, 2009 at 10:23 AM MDT
Story Updated: Jul 16, 2009 at 11:02 AM MDT
Photo courtesy of Ryan Stockdale.org
“(We held it) to discuss the merits of Ryan's case,” said Stockdale family spokesman Scott Turlington.
It all boils down to whether a $100,000 experimental surgery Stockdale's doctors are recommending.
Last Friday, the company sent out a statement, saying the procedure, deep brain stimulation, is “experimental and therefore not covered."
But Turlington says not so fast.
"Within that plan, the framework of that plan, they do have the discretion to authorize this."
It's in black and white. Under a section titled, “Experimental/Investigational Treatment,” the Omnipure plan rejects all “treatments, procedures, devices or drugs which the Plan sponsor determines, in the exercise of its discretion, are experimental, investigational, or done primarily for research.”
But the plan continues to say experimental procedures may be covered if “reliable evidence” shows the treatments could work.
That's why Omnipure conferenced with Stockdale's neurologist, Doctor Phillip Starr. Starr is a cluster headache expert at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. In a letter sent to Omnipure's health plan administrator on June 1, 2009, Starr asked MS Administrative to approve deep brain stimulation for Ryan Stockdale.
“I am contacting you to re-appeal your decision and beg of you to reconsider authorizing treatment for this patient,” Starr wrote.
Starr says he's treated eight cluster headache patients with deep brain stimulation, and five of them “are totally transformed.” The neurologist urges approval, calling it “the morally correct and compassionate avenue,” and pointing out the company would save money on future treatments if Stockdale is one of the 50 to 60 percent of patients that respond to the treatment.
Turlington admits $100,000 to $140,000 is a lot of money for a procedure that has a coin flip's chance of success, but, “That 60 percent may as well be 100 percent for the Stockdale's, because without this his chance is zero,” Turlington said.
Most Popular
- Check this out! Hot air balloon lands in Boise River
- Wash. woman target of acid attack had just moved from Idaho
- BSU unveils new uniforms
- Photos: Swimsuits and gowns at Miss Universe
- Did son kill parents over $500 in rent money?
- Boise Marine killed was 'a true hero'
- Three people killed in Idaho Fish and Game helicopter crash
- Photo Gallery: Firefighting aircraft in action
- Kitten target of chemical attack, tossed around 'like a baseball'
- Prosecutors: Teacher faked being teen for online sex chats
