So frustrating

A few weeks back, I sent an inquiry to the Wyoming EqualityCare office about their criteria for cochlear implant coverage. Today I've gotten a response. Since I sent in the inquiry, they've removed the "no communicating" bit from their criteria. Great!

But... I have to have scored 40% or worse in order for Medicaid to cover the implant for me. I've scored somewhere a bit over 50% with the right ear (0% for left ear). Ugh! Advanced Bionics insurance reimbursement already knows of this. I'm waiting on a response from Allison Biever to see if there's something else we could do. I am so incredibly frustrated right now. I do know there is still the CNI Cochlear Implant Assistance's program, and I may have to go that route afterall. I want to see what Allison has to say first.

Oh wow. The news of the meningitis outbreak in Oologah, Oklahoma has gotten to me. So far in the past week, 7 kids have contracted meningoccocal meningitis, and 2 of those kids have died. I am hoping that the other 5 victims get over this and get better as quickly as possible, with no lasting after-effects, and that no one else contracts the illness. Just thinking about this is making me sad right now.

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In other news... I ordered the documentary "From Silence to Sound" from Amazon.com, and it arrived today (along with Seasons 2, 3 and 4 of ER). It's about 45 minutes long, about this deaf man from Oklahoma named Justin. He's been deaf all his life, and was the first person in the state of Oklahoma to get bilateral cochlear implants in March 2006. Was a very interesting DVD to watch, so I'm glad I bought it. The documentary is basically of Justin sharing his story of what his childhood was like, and of his experience getting the implants.

Medicaid's Criteria

Advanced Bionic's insurance reimbursement just caught this contradiction with Medicaid's cochlear implant for adults coverage criteria.
The first criteria states: "patient must have post lingual deafness" so patient need to have developed speech before becoming deaf.
But then later on, it states "patient must have no means of communicating." Contradicting, isn't it?

Hopefully Advanced Bionics will be able to get a hold of someone at the Medicaid office and let them know of this "error" and that they get it fixed. I'm surprised I didn't catch this sooner. Wow.

new earmold, finally!

FINALLY! Yesterday my new earmold arrived at my audiologist's office. But I didn't pick it up yesterday, since I was too kooky in the head. Today, before going to work (running late oops), I did go get it. Unitron made the earmold this time. Didn't even realize Unitron made molds too. Huh. Anyway, it's a half-shell mold, clear non-allergenic. Also got my Supero hearing aid back too, finally! Audie's assistant told me the hearing aid has been completely cleaned and everything, so good! Fitted the earmold, put Supero hearing aid on and WHOA loud feedbacking ahh! It still feedbacks a bit when it's behind the ear... but if I turn down the volume, that helps. Will have to get the hearing aid adjusted so I don't have to turn down the volume every time I turn the HA on. Yep. I'm glad to have the Supero back, I surely did miss it.

Now... the new earmold cost me $75 today. Wait a minute! Last earmold cost me $68, and before then, $60, $55ish... I swear, these people just increase the price on earmolds every other year. And this is the cost for just one earmold. ONE. I'd expect that kind of price for a pair, but not for a single. Definitely not too happy with being charged more for the earmold. Oy!

Hearing Aids for Africa/African Hope Initiative

I have some friends that are part of the African Hope Initiative, helping the deaf kids in Africa (they actually went out to Africa in November to see how the construction of the deaf school was coming along, meet the kids, and speak with their parents). I think it's great they're part of this, and I want to be involved as well. So my project for the Initiative is to collect used hearing aids which will be donated to the deaf kids in Africa. I got a PO Box so people can send their used hearing aids, and I'll give them to my friend and she'll make sure they're fixed and working properly before donating them to the deaf African kids.

If any of you here have used hearing aids, or know of anyone who has some laying around and have no clue what to do with them, and don't mind giving them up... send them my way!

Hearing Aids for Africa
PO Box 50761
Casper, WY 82605


the PO Box isn't that big (about the size of a 3-inch 3-ring binder that's full? something like that).

If you want more info about the African Hope Initiative, they have a website and a facebook page.
http://www.africanhopeinitiative.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/African-Hope-Initiative/212448954922

Difficulties

So, I guess Wyoming EqualityCare is being difficult with the appeal case. The person at Advanced Bionics working on my appeal case is resubmitting everything. She's requesting for copies of my medical records and another letter from Rocky Mountain Ear Center so she can send that in. I've already resent the copy of the denial letter so she could use it as well. So frustrating! Hopefully this time we actually get somewhere with the appeal, and actually get an answer!

fun with hearing aids

Today, before getting to work, I decided I'd play around with the different hearing aids I had with the Hatis Epic stilouette. With the Claro hearing aid, the volume is far too quiet. I even maxed out the volume on the iPod and had to resort to turning up the volume on the hearing aid as well, and it was still too quiet. Then I gave the loaner Unitron a try, and whoa the music sounded different, unusual. Then I dug out my purple Phonak Pico-Forte's. They still work! With the stilouette, the music sounded better (though a bit different), and the volume is better too. It's just a matter of making sure the microphone is next to the stilouette to get a better sound, and it's tricky to get them both sitting behind my ear just right. Hm... Already I miss my Supero!

Am considering making a new website for myself, in relation to my hearing loss and meningitis. I do have a webpage about my meningitis, except it doesn't mention much of my meningitis story. So, why not just make a whole new website and combine both meningitis and deaf stories and just have fun with it? Yep.