I was admitted and discharged five times since I first woke up paralyzed early January trying to get a neurological consult.
Was told in no uncertain terms, there neurosurgeon and have been told "there's no neurologist or [137/81] neurosurgeon in this hospital. Then I'm told I have to see one outpatient and they discharge me to home without a wheelchair, walker, transportation, a diagnosis or any kind of treatment plan and tell me if I don't leave I'm responsible for the entire bill.
When I explain to them that I can't walk they offer no suggestions and tell me to take a taxi and go to another hospital because I'm too young for inpatient rehab and that my insurance won't pay for transportation because "you have bad insurance."
They TELL me they requested a walker or services or a medical surgical transfer but that it has been denied and that I have no rights to appeal.
WUT?
I've worked in many capacities as a private and government contractor and have been studying, auditing, advising, writing and advocating for myself and others and have served twice as an expert witness on health care appeals.
I'm not going to post my curriculum vitae here and I shouldn't have to but I've NEVER heard such a ridiculous line of bullshit in my life and I'm too furious and weak to fight the system right now.
But you don't have to be a fùcking scientist to google my name and figure out that I might not be the best person to fuck with for too long while on steroids before I take this whole god damn hospital, insurance company (and YES, the corrupt piece of shit Governor too) down with me.
This isn't just a lawsuit waiting to happen, it's a god damned revolution.
I've done it before and I'll do again. I'm not in this alone, and neither are the millions of Americans who are forced into medical bankruptcy, permanent disability or unable to navigate or access appropriate, affordable, accessible, medically necessary lifesaving medical care in the richest country on earth.
Call congress, call me, call your reps!! Now is not the time to sit back and be complacent.
I'm going to need some time to heal. This experience has broken me in ways I did not see coming but I promise you, I will not stop fighting and I beg you to keep doing the same.
Thank you for all of the love, support, patience and kindness. Having kind, caring people reach out to me across the world has made all the difference. More than you could possibly know.
I refuse to sit back and watch all the work I've done and the work of so many others go unnoticed.
Peter Morley
Natalie Weaver
Alyssa Milano
Scott Dworkin
Craig Anne Heflinger
Virginia Betts
Lori Smith
Tony Garr
Emmanuel Morel
Telene Thomas
Kirsten Olson
Laz
Joker
Roanna Carleton
Wayne Oldfield
Creeples
To name just a few...
To be continued!
Elyssa D. Durant
Health Policy Analyst
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