A representative from Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield called today. Apparently, they need to be convinced that the use of the EBIce Cold Therapy Unit is not an “experimental” treatment.

Finally, a glitch, though mercifully it’s bureaucratic and not medical.

When we first scheduled the surgery, I’d been worried about bureaucratic problems, because the surgery was scheduled for early January, and we had switched our coverage from Oxford Health Plans to Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, effective January 1. I was certain that the necessary pre-approvals wouldn’t be processed in time. But lo and behold! My Empire ID card arrived before my final appointment with Dr. Feldman, and all the paperwork went through smoothly. The hospital visit, as I wrote before, was a breeze.

But then today I checked the claims section of my Empire account online.

Continue Reading →