Change.org

Cigna: Approve coverage for my daughters cochlear implant

My daughter Nicole was born with several health issues. In her first four months of life she had three bowel surgeries, one heart surgery, bacterial meningitis, and we learned that she would need a liver transplant. We also learned that Nikki suffered from undetermined hearing loss, however during that time the doctors and her family was focused on life saving procedures. Nikki is now three years old (almost 4) and she has neuropathy in her left ear and has been pronounced profound deaf in her right ear.

We have been fortunate to be able to send Nikki to the Atlanta Speech School, which has worked wonders with her speech ability. However, her speech pathologist, therapist, teachers, and doctor have determined that Nikki has reached a plateau and will not likely improve in her speech or hearing abilities. Based on her doctor recommendation along with the advisors at the speech school, we requested Cigna (my employer provided insurance) to cover the cost of the cochlear implant. Cigna denied to cover the implant based on information provided and we appealed.

The initial reason Cigna denied coverage was stated that Nikki’s hearing loss was not significant enough and she had not utilized hearing aids for at least a three-month period. During the appeal Cigna was informed that Nikki had in fact utilized hearing aids in both ears for more than two years, and her deafness was far greater than what Cigna required. Cigna denied our appeal for coverage stating that they felt that Nikki was progressing or could progress with further use of hearing aids. Due to Nikki being immune suppressed it is difficult to keep her healthy long enough to have a surgery, (she has had at least 8 pneumonia infections in the last year and a half). We have her scheduled to receive the implant at the end of July, however without coverage Nikki will not be able to receive the implant.

Nikki is now three years old and has overcome so much adversity in her young life. According to the rules she is “disabled”, but with the cochlear implants that would enable her to hear she would no longer be “disabled”. Change.org was able to assist another family in the same area that we live who were also undergoing the refusal of the insurance company. I work as a police officer and my wife is a lawyer who provides legal services to indigent clients as well as others.

In Georgia it seems that insurance companies do not cover any hearing loss coverage. Nikki’s hearing aids were provided for her when she was eligible for Medicaid under the Katie Beckett waiver, however due to the recent changes in the Medicaid coverage, Nikki is no longer eligible to receive the Katie Beckett waiver. Our family hopes that with the support of this petition Nikki will be able to receive her cochlear implants, and other children and their families will not have to endure the hardships of deafness when there is a potential remedy available.

My understanding of the cost of a cochlear implant is each ear cost about $125,000.00. Nikki, like other kids and adults who receive cochlear implants require intense therapy to “train” their brain to hear again. Based on information cochlear implants are performed on a regular basis with overwhelming success. We want our baby girl and others like her to be able to grow and enjoy life with every opportunity. I would be willing to pay even more than I do for the insurance premium, but how can anyone say that hearing is not medically necessary as was stated by Cigna?

Please sign this petition so that Nikki and others like her can receive this life altering procedure.

http://www.change.org/petitions/cigna-approve-coverage-for-my-daughters-cochlear-implant

Warrior

Update from Change.org 

Let’s keep up the pressure until we know Meriam Yehya Ibrahim is safe and free

26 Jun 2014 —

The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind of news surrounding the case of Meriam Ibrahim. On Monday, a Sudanese appeals court ruled that she should be set free, and that they charges she was facing — arrested and sentenced to die for not being willing to give up her Christian faith or renounce her marriage to her husband, Daniel — should be voided.

Then on Tuesday, as she went to the airport to leave with her husband and kids, she was held by Sudanese intelligence officials, and we are still waiting to know if she has been able to leave the country.

While this story plays out, we cannot let up on our demand that Meriam be set free and allowed to travel with her husband and her two kids. We are almost at one million signatures. Please, while Meriam’s future still remains uncertain, share this petition with on Facebook, Twitter, or with your friends and family, and keep up the global momentum for Meriam to be free.

With your help we can build more than one million voices calling for Meriam’s freedom. She is so close. Please stand with me once more and show the rest of the world that Meriam should be free and reunited with her family.

Thank you for taking action.

*****************

Update from RAINN’S on Campus Sexual Assualt 

Today on Capitol Hill, Becca O’Connor, RAINN’s vice president for public policy, will join Sen. Claire McCaskill and law enforcement leaders to discuss solutions to the problem of sexual assault on college campuses.

Senator Claire McCaskill meets with students to address campus sexual assault.*

WHAT: Campus Sexual Assault: The Administrative Process and the Criminal Justice System Roundtable

WHEN: Today at 2:30 pm ET

The discussion is expected to include:

How law enforcement agencies and prosecutors pursue crimes of sexual violence involving students.

What Congress can do to ensure that survivors receive justice.
Watch live online, and follow the conversation on Twitter with @RAINN01 and using the hashtag #ActWithRAINN.

Learn about RAINN’s policy initiatives by visiting the Action Center.

*Photo Credit: Office of Senator Claire McCaskill

In honor of Father’s Day, and all the men who have joined the movement to say NO MORE to Domestic Violence and sexual assault, join us for the NO MORE Excuses Marathon, next Sunday, June 22nd on USA Network.

Tune in for special messages from the Law & Order: SVU cast, including special new videos

Watch for the star-studded NO MORE PSAs

There’s an extensive list of resources available. Mariska Hargitay who plays a cop on SVU, gives a special address. Mariska started the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 with the mission to help heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. NO MORE and End the Backlog are featured programs of the Joyful Heart Foundation.

KNOW THE FACTS

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Some signs of an abusive relationship include:

Exerting strict control (financial, social and/or appearance).
Needing constant contact including excessive texts and calls.
Insulting a partner in front of other people.
Extreme jealousy.
Showing fear around a partner.
Isolation from family and friends.
Frequent canceling of plans at the last-minute.
Unexplained injuries or explanations that don’t quite add up.

Warrior

Thank you to all the Hero’s I’ll never know. Today and everyday I remember America is a free nation because others made sacrifices. Here’s a Texas size hug!

Today is the 70th anniversary of D-Day when more than a 160,000 Allied troops landing on a 50 miles stretch of beaches in Normandy, France. The shores were heavily fortified, over 9,000 were killed or wounded. The sacrifice made by the first men opened the doors for an extra 100,000 plus men to defeat Nazi Germany. We have lost many from this generation, some say the greatest generation. I think war is war and losing one American is too many. I’m not naïve enough to think more American’s are not going to die or wounded in current and future conflicts. As we honor these Hero’s today let’s remember we are a free country because of the sacrifices made since we put foot on this land. Many Veterans feel they have been forgotten, who could blame them after the VA scandal. We don’t know the names of every man and woman who died for us. We’re home in the cozy lazy boy compared to the horrid weather soldiers have endured over the years. When you see a Veteran, go shake their hand and tell then how much appreciate their sacrifice. Because of the sacrifices the Military we are America Home of the Free. We need to let that soak in when we see what’s going on in a large part of the world today. I would like to tell you more about my gramps who is my Hero.

My Gramps An American Hero

Many of you know my gramps means everything to me from previous  post. He was hard-headed, a gentleman, liked dirty jokes, loved a game of 42 and devoted to his family. He married my grandmother when my father was 10 years old. My grandfather was a good-looking man, the bluest eyes, big flirt, great sense of humor, hard-working and above all he was smart. He was 35 years old when they married in 1950, very unusual for a man of that generation. I say he was smart because he joined the Army at 17 years old, upon returning from the war he took his time finding his forever wife. My grandmother was very attractive, even with her crossed eyes, he had choices and my grandmother was his choice.  At 35 years old he knew what he wanted in a wife vs. a girlfriend. He raised my father the same way he raised me. When I got my driver’s licence at 15 years old, he made me pay $50 a year to cover part of the insurance. I also paid $8 a week for gas. That doesn’t sound like much, gas was $0.89 at the time. I was only able to drive to/from work and take granny to the mall. No cruising, no nothing and the rules didn’t change when I got my car at 16 years old. I was writing for our school paper and writing sports for the Irving Daily News, they were on the approved list. He was smart because he knew I drank and if I couldn’t drive on the weekend my risk were reduced. My gramps was the pillar of responsibility. One of his lesson’s, if  you borrow something give it back in better shape. I was so blessed move in with them at 14 years old. I learned so much more than I knew until he was gone. We had so much fun, I think he was the best gramps ever.

We didn’t talk about the war much, they weren’t memories he wanted to relive. A couple of years before his death while looking at discharge papers I saw he had a Bronze Star among other medals. This did not surprise me but you will probably get a kick out of. I said where is your Bronze Star, he walked out to garage and pulled out of his tool box. That was gramps. I asked what he did to get it and he said they gave them to everyone. I knew it wasn’t true but went along. All the Military records for a segment of the alphabet were housed in Kansas City, in the 1970’s the building caught fire and all the records were lost. His paperwork was in the fire. I figured there was a way to get what I needed. I gave her the information on his discharge papers and she sent me a replacement for every medal awarded. I showed him so proudly what I had done, he said what did you that for? The medals could be like memories he didn’t want to remember. I love you gramps.

Warrior

Senate Appropriations Committee Affirms Longstanding Commitment to Addressing Rape Kit Backlogs

On Thursday, June 5, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill that addresses the nation’s rape kit backlog. Central to this effort is the renewal of current funding levels of $117 million to support the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, which supports the testing of backlogged sexual assault forensic exams (rape kits). The bill also establishes and funds a new program to support community-based sexual assault response reform. In April, the House of Representatives also approved level funding for the proven Debbie Smith Act and provided an additional $35 million in support of efforts to address backlogs of sexual assault kits at law enforcement agencies.

RAINN, together with allied organizations and individuals including the National Center for Victims of Crime, Debbie Smith of H-E-A-R-T, Inc, the National Alliance Against Sexual Violence, Parents of Murdered Children, Ed Smart of the Surviving Parents Coalition, DNA Saves, and the International Association of Forensic Nurses, has expressed support for continued funding of the Debbie Smith Act and complementary efforts that will help to remove serial criminals from our streets and enhance public safety.

The full Senate is expected to consider the spending measure, which also supports a number of other programs and initiatives designed to support victims of sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable, in the coming weeks. The differences between the House and Senate-approved spending plans must then be reconciled.

Join RAINN’s efforts to renew the Debbie Smith Program for the next five years, and support this and additional funding to help achieve justice for survivors:

https://rainn.org/public-policy/rainn-action-center

Be a part of the conversation on Twitter & Facebook: #ActwithRAINN

We’re fighting justice for all Rape victims. The criminals receive justice if DNA in Federal Database, current cases and proven innocence for those in jail. Sounds like a WIN-WIN.

Warrior

A Step Closer to Landmark Reform

 Today, we have moved one step closer to achieving landmark rape kit reform. This morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $41 million in its FY2015 Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill to address the rape kit backlog. The Senate’s actions follow on the heels of last week’s vote by the House of Representatives for this historic level of funding in its new spending bill. The new program will provide communities with the vital resources they need to help end the backlog at law enforcement agencies throughout the country, with a focus on investigating cases and re-engaging survivors in the process.

As we begin the final push to ensure this funding is passed by the full Senate, we urge you to join the thousands who have already taken action and made their voices heard.Write to your Senators and urge them to support this funding as the bill moves through the Senate. Send your letter here. Thank the members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committee leadership who prioritized this funding. Share your tweets here.

Help spread the word about the rape kit backlog and our efforts to end it with your community. Get started here. Funding for comprehensive rape kit reform sends a message to survivors that they—and their cases—matter. It sends a message to perpetrators that they will be held accountable for their crimes. It demonstrates a commitment to survivors to do everything possible to bring healing and justice.

Thank you for joining us.

Maile Zambuto

Chief Executive Officer

Joyful Heart Foundation

I wanted to keep everyone up to date on the funding process. Funding approval is vital to give states the money to process all Rape Kits in backlog.

Warrior

You would laugh so hard watching Banjo and Truffles fight. Truffles will get on back legs and hit Banjo like boxing. Shaggy only worries about his food bowl and not getting caught on the bed.

Warrior

Have you heard Siamese cats talk a lot, so true. My fourteen year old, pain in the ass this morning, Truffles. He’s so spoiled.