So, last week, I called my billing case worker and was like, "Hey, I sent in that last round of paperwork about a month ago and I haven't heard from you at all, so I was just calling to check in and see what the status is…"
I'm used to just not hearing anything, but she called me back today.
GREAT NEWS.
She approved my application for charity aid, and she said that the bill is taken care of. That I shouldn't receive any other bills (if I do, let her know), and that I'm wiped clean. I'd still prefer to get this in writing, but it looks like that $100k debt is no longer hanging over me.
I kinda wish that she didn't sound so bored and annoyed that she had to call me, like, "Yeah, I made the decision about a month ago. Sorry that I didn't return your call until now, psssshh whatevs."
All I've got left is the bill for the surgeons, which is about $9000, which is a lot, but is totally totally doable. Especially compared to $100000. Goddamn.
So, thanks again to everyone who helped! Love you all!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
It's official!
I'm a medically indigent adult, thus unqualified for Medi Cal! That only took about 60 days to figure out!
Now I can apply for programs through the hospital! Whee!
Now I can apply for programs through the hospital! Whee!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A month of wellness!
What's it been? A month?
I've seen most of you in person by now—with my Wire watching nearly over, I'm pretty much up and around. I'm back at work now, still having some residual side effects, but mostly good.
And for all of you who helped, well, hopefully most of you have gotten your thank you cards by now. If you haven't, either it's on the way, you didn't give me a postal address, or I somehow totally munged things up in an opioid haze (I can only imagine how many thank you's I've sent to Mr. Goodbar inadvertantly).
In fun bureaucracy news, I've been assigned a Medi Cal eligibility officer, who will theoretically tell me whether or not I'm eligible at some point in the future. The letter I was sent said that I could only contact him at "the following times:" then left the blank unfilled. WAY TO GO! A PLUS!
So, still dealing with the bills, bills, bills, and facing a house with too much good stuff already, I'm going to be purging some stuff. I'll put up a list of books later—if you gave me a book while I was convalescing, I've likely read it (and thanks again). You can have them back if you'd like (save a couple I'll wheedle out of folks, but one of the perks of asking for trashy reading is not feeling guilty about holding onto it), otherwise I'll toss them up into a Radiohead "auction" (pay what you want, even if it's nothing) for divesting.
Thanks again for all the help through the worst of it, folks. Now we're going from acute to chronic, and I'll try to keep this updated.
I've seen most of you in person by now—with my Wire watching nearly over, I'm pretty much up and around. I'm back at work now, still having some residual side effects, but mostly good.
And for all of you who helped, well, hopefully most of you have gotten your thank you cards by now. If you haven't, either it's on the way, you didn't give me a postal address, or I somehow totally munged things up in an opioid haze (I can only imagine how many thank you's I've sent to Mr. Goodbar inadvertantly).
In fun bureaucracy news, I've been assigned a Medi Cal eligibility officer, who will theoretically tell me whether or not I'm eligible at some point in the future. The letter I was sent said that I could only contact him at "the following times:" then left the blank unfilled. WAY TO GO! A PLUS!
So, still dealing with the bills, bills, bills, and facing a house with too much good stuff already, I'm going to be purging some stuff. I'll put up a list of books later—if you gave me a book while I was convalescing, I've likely read it (and thanks again). You can have them back if you'd like (save a couple I'll wheedle out of folks, but one of the perks of asking for trashy reading is not feeling guilty about holding onto it), otherwise I'll toss them up into a Radiohead "auction" (pay what you want, even if it's nothing) for divesting.
Thanks again for all the help through the worst of it, folks. Now we're going from acute to chronic, and I'll try to keep this updated.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I'm sorry, sir
In order to have UCLA start processing my bills with the uninsured cost mitigation apparatus (charities, lawyers, etc.), the woman at UCLA tells me that she needs a statement from Health Advocates that they've declined to assist me. Since my previous call with HA was pretty quick and painless, I assume this will be too. So, I google their phone number (since once again the numbers they provided me don't work), then call 'em. I get routed to the same case manager, I tell her that I need a written record of being denied there.
But according to the case manager, there is no possible way to send me a letter (or UCLA a letter) saying that I was denied. I don't have a problem with being denied—I don't meet their criteria. But it starts going pear-shaped when the case manager will only tell me that I've been denied verbally.
"You can't type up a letter that says that?"
"No. That's why I am advising you verbally that we are unable to help."
"So, you can't create any sort of written paper trail on that?"
"No, that's company information that we can't share with you."
"But you can share it verbally."
"Yes. That's why I'm telling you verbally."
"Why can't you give me a written notice?"
"I told you, sir, that we tell you verbally."
"Yeah, I heard that. That's saying that you can't do it, not why you can't do it. That's a different question."
"I am sorry sir, but we can't provide letters."
"I'm sorry, but that's nonsense. You physically can't type a letter?"
"What would it have in it?"
"That you declined to assist me. Just like you told me."
"Yes, sir, but I told you verbally."
In the end, she gives me the number for the liaison who works for Health Advocates at UCLA. So, in the end, Health Advocates seems quite less on the ball than they previously did. I mean, seriously, you can't find a bit of letterhead and send me a note?
But according to the case manager, there is no possible way to send me a letter (or UCLA a letter) saying that I was denied. I don't have a problem with being denied—I don't meet their criteria. But it starts going pear-shaped when the case manager will only tell me that I've been denied verbally.
"You can't type up a letter that says that?"
"No. That's why I am advising you verbally that we are unable to help."
"So, you can't create any sort of written paper trail on that?"
"No, that's company information that we can't share with you."
"But you can share it verbally."
"Yes. That's why I'm telling you verbally."
"Why can't you give me a written notice?"
"I told you, sir, that we tell you verbally."
"Yeah, I heard that. That's saying that you can't do it, not why you can't do it. That's a different question."
"I am sorry sir, but we can't provide letters."
"I'm sorry, but that's nonsense. You physically can't type a letter?"
"What would it have in it?"
"That you declined to assist me. Just like you told me."
"Yes, sir, but I told you verbally."
In the end, she gives me the number for the liaison who works for Health Advocates at UCLA. So, in the end, Health Advocates seems quite less on the ball than they previously did. I mean, seriously, you can't find a bit of letterhead and send me a note?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
New frontiers in Klang mobility
I drove yesterday, to the store! Which means that I can pretty much go anywhere you can fit with a crutch. Which is pretty sweet.
Now, off to swim!
Now, off to swim!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The final bill
Today's mail brought me the bill from the hospital, and well, at least initial estimates were high. At the hospital, they told me that it'd probably run about $100,000; the bill is actually $70,758.56.
$30,000 here and $30,000 there, soon enough we're talking real money.
$30,000 here and $30,000 there, soon enough we're talking real money.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Checks and stuff
Just so y'all know, because apparently there's been some questions, if you sent me a check, the reason I haven't cashed it yet is because I need to show my broke-ass bank account to the hospital folks in order to qualify for aid. I'll have Amy start cashing the checks to her, and I'll get on the checks to me as soon as that's cleared up, but it may take another week or so.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Anniversary
Hey, it's been a whole month since I fell down went boom. I just had my first shower in a month and it was awesome!
Two-hand touch!
Got my splint off yesterday, good times. Now I can type two-handed, which is pretty damn revelatory. Did have some more cod-Kafka at the doctors: I called on Wednesday (like I did prior to my previous appointment) just to confirm and make sure everything was jake. I ask 'em, "So, I don't need to come in early for x-rays or anything," and they say, no, no, just come in at 12:30.
So, we get there at, like, 11:45, and when we check in, they tell me, Oh, man, before your appointment, you gotta go get x-rays. So we hustle down to the interminable first-come x-ray office on the first floor, wait with some screaming kids and an endless parade of elderly wraiths like this office is the end point of some katabasis. We're all anxious about getting x-rayed and then getting back by 12:30.
So, we do and we do, and we wait in this overcrowded office where it's so packed with wheelchairs that they're sending 'em out into the hall. At about 1:15, I go up and ask, hey, weren't we supposed to go at 12:30? ¿Que honda? ¿Que pedo?
Nope. Turns out that the real visit is scheduled for 1:30, and the x-ray "appointment" was scheduled for 12:30. That none of this was communicated was apparently all part of some elaborate game theory.
Anyway, got the staples out of my arm, and the splint off. Got to switch pain killers to something non-habit forming but not much fun. I have a heart-shaped cut on my elbow which is (I can't see it) apparently totally emo and Amy can't look at it because it's all too gross.
In other news, the giant fire that blazed two nights ago during America's Next Top Model, over at 3733 Midvale? Not a meth lab, far as we can tell. Amanda and Isaac took me over there on my daily constitutional, and it's just a gutted garage full of burned out pick-ups. I might try to sneak a camera over there just to see what I can get. Aside from the absolute toxic smell (the smoke from the fire was totally choking on the night of), it'd be a neat place to shoot nudes, but no one I know has any interest in being my nude model for scenes of urban blight, so…
So, we get there at, like, 11:45, and when we check in, they tell me, Oh, man, before your appointment, you gotta go get x-rays. So we hustle down to the interminable first-come x-ray office on the first floor, wait with some screaming kids and an endless parade of elderly wraiths like this office is the end point of some katabasis. We're all anxious about getting x-rayed and then getting back by 12:30.
So, we do and we do, and we wait in this overcrowded office where it's so packed with wheelchairs that they're sending 'em out into the hall. At about 1:15, I go up and ask, hey, weren't we supposed to go at 12:30? ¿Que honda? ¿Que pedo?
Nope. Turns out that the real visit is scheduled for 1:30, and the x-ray "appointment" was scheduled for 12:30. That none of this was communicated was apparently all part of some elaborate game theory.
Anyway, got the staples out of my arm, and the splint off. Got to switch pain killers to something non-habit forming but not much fun. I have a heart-shaped cut on my elbow which is (I can't see it) apparently totally emo and Amy can't look at it because it's all too gross.
In other news, the giant fire that blazed two nights ago during America's Next Top Model, over at 3733 Midvale? Not a meth lab, far as we can tell. Amanda and Isaac took me over there on my daily constitutional, and it's just a gutted garage full of burned out pick-ups. I might try to sneak a camera over there just to see what I can get. Aside from the absolute toxic smell (the smoke from the fire was totally choking on the night of), it'd be a neat place to shoot nudes, but no one I know has any interest in being my nude model for scenes of urban blight, so…
Thursday, April 1, 2010
It's not just me
I just found out that due to the amount of time Amy's had to take off, and the money caring for me has cost her, that we won't be able—and more to the point, she won't be able—to take the trip to Yosemite with her family that she's been planning since last summer. I knew I was going to be iffy on hiking, but I'd figured she'd still go. Major bummer. I mean, I can kind of let the consequences for me roll off my back to some extent just by focusing on my rehab, but Christ, I feel awful knowing what this has done to her.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Yeah, see, it's the going there thing…
At the hospital, the social worker that was handling my case said that the UCLA health advocates would contact me, put me in contact with UCLA's lawyers (who would generally help recover the cost of my stay without having to go through the personal injury rigmarole) and line me up for charities.
So, I get this urgent letter from the Health Advocates, and because neither of the phone numbers listed work (800 or 888), I gotta google 'em to get the right local contacts. I end up talking to them and come to find out that they only do the paperwork for Medical/care/SSI/what have you. And, they only do the paperwork if you have minor children (which is why they asked, "Are you sure your girlfriend isn't pregnant?" several times, and I'm like, "Jeez, I hope not. That's the last thing we need right now.") or if you're going to have a disability of over a year. Otherwise, the woman told me, you gotta go down to the Medical and Medicare offices in person. (Amy immediately asked "Why in person?" but I was too busy with my convivial, "Yes, yes, that makes sense," during the interview to ask, because I'm a dumbass.)
So, I guess that's put off until I can reliably get places, though I have to apply—and be rejected—before UCLA will issue their final billing. I realize that Health Advocates are really there for people who are worse off and really can't manage this—despite the accident being pretty fucking undesirable, I really am pretty fortunate on the whole—but I guess what makes me one of those damn socialists is that I really wish there was adequate funding to obviate the hassle for me too.
So, I get this urgent letter from the Health Advocates, and because neither of the phone numbers listed work (800 or 888), I gotta google 'em to get the right local contacts. I end up talking to them and come to find out that they only do the paperwork for Medical/care/SSI/what have you. And, they only do the paperwork if you have minor children (which is why they asked, "Are you sure your girlfriend isn't pregnant?" several times, and I'm like, "Jeez, I hope not. That's the last thing we need right now.") or if you're going to have a disability of over a year. Otherwise, the woman told me, you gotta go down to the Medical and Medicare offices in person. (Amy immediately asked "Why in person?" but I was too busy with my convivial, "Yes, yes, that makes sense," during the interview to ask, because I'm a dumbass.)
So, I guess that's put off until I can reliably get places, though I have to apply—and be rejected—before UCLA will issue their final billing. I realize that Health Advocates are really there for people who are worse off and really can't manage this—despite the accident being pretty fucking undesirable, I really am pretty fortunate on the whole—but I guess what makes me one of those damn socialists is that I really wish there was adequate funding to obviate the hassle for me too.
So… a phoner then?
I got a call about a week ago from someone from Internet Brands called about an ad I'd responded to in, I dunno, September, and just scheduled a phoner for Friday, because what the hell, I might as well recover right into a new job.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got
I'm still working on walking around the block.
Carson's walked with me the last couple days, and I'm making it pretty well. I got the stink eye for not yielding to some woman in a motorized wheelchair, but she was moving twice as fast and was plenty more practiced at maneuvering. But she was gone before I could even think to shrug.
I got my last stomach injection this morning and I'm pretty glad to be done with them. Now maybe I can start looking to ibuprofen, which'd let me step back on the percoset, and hopefully some of the weird opioid side effects will fall by the wayside. Someday, maybe, I'd be able to take shit like this for fun again.
Carson's walked with me the last couple days, and I'm making it pretty well. I got the stink eye for not yielding to some woman in a motorized wheelchair, but she was moving twice as fast and was plenty more practiced at maneuvering. But she was gone before I could even think to shrug.
I got my last stomach injection this morning and I'm pretty glad to be done with them. Now maybe I can start looking to ibuprofen, which'd let me step back on the percoset, and hopefully some of the weird opioid side effects will fall by the wayside. Someday, maybe, I'd be able to take shit like this for fun again.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Brief update
—Almost all the way around the block with my crutch.
—Only two days left on stomach injections!
—Scaling way back on pain killers, as the digestive problems just aren't worth it.
—Only two days left on stomach injections!
—Scaling way back on pain killers, as the digestive problems just aren't worth it.
Friday, March 26, 2010
VOLUME
Also, tried no-rinse shampoo for the first time today. The can promised to remove oil and "enhance volume." I've got more volume than a Who concert. The Christopher Walken pompadour really does highlight how insane my bushy beard has gotten, moving me from homeless to sartorially deranged.
Christ on a crutch
I'm off my walker; I got a crutch today. Already, I'm faster, stronger, better. And don't have to slam the walker around in the bathroom.
I had my first follow-up yesterday, with Soohoo, and got the staples out of my leg. Forgot to mention the numb spot; not sure if it's a deal. It's just behind the cut. The cut does look wicked and evil; I'm trying to figure out how to get the photos off my phone.
Amy also took me by the accident site, where I saw that the pavement really is some two-three inches up from the preceding square (panel?).
I had my first follow-up yesterday, with Soohoo, and got the staples out of my leg. Forgot to mention the numb spot; not sure if it's a deal. It's just behind the cut. The cut does look wicked and evil; I'm trying to figure out how to get the photos off my phone.
Amy also took me by the accident site, where I saw that the pavement really is some two-three inches up from the preceding square (panel?).
Monday, March 22, 2010
Follow-ups scheduled
So now I have a deadline for getting into the car (because a bus with a walker seems like something more fun in theory): My first follow-up is on Thursday at 2pm. I don't remember who was primary on what, and I'm seeing Soohoo. If he did the arm, then my splint will come off. If you want to be sure to get your picture taken with the splint, act fast.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Impact plus 16
Yesterday highlights: Chris (Mr. Zarquon) came over with mac & cheese, Venture Bros., and Hellboy. Then we talked about robots, telepresence and deep-sea salvage. "Where does the person end?" He recommended TED talks. I know I'm behind on TED. Wasn't it just in Long Beach?
Also watched Olympic women's gold-medal curling. Sweden won in extra end? Best game I've seen, even if Canadians lost. Late to the Olympics too, but so what.
Mac and cheese was Alton Brown kicked up with great cheddars, and Scottish(?) bleu. Tasty stuff—I like that all my nerd friends have worked on developing good palates.
In recovery news, with Amy's help, I did about ten stairs. Hard, but I'm getting there. And managed to go from a usual knee stretch angle of about 135-130° to probably 120° after ice and massage. I'll do more belt pulls today.
Also watched Olympic women's gold-medal curling. Sweden won in extra end? Best game I've seen, even if Canadians lost. Late to the Olympics too, but so what.
Mac and cheese was Alton Brown kicked up with great cheddars, and Scottish(?) bleu. Tasty stuff—I like that all my nerd friends have worked on developing good palates.
In recovery news, with Amy's help, I did about ten stairs. Hard, but I'm getting there. And managed to go from a usual knee stretch angle of about 135-130° to probably 120° after ice and massage. I'll do more belt pulls today.
Grind, Grind, Level
Wheew.
As most of y'all know, I took a wicked whip offa my bike two weeks ago, leaving me with a broken femur and ulna. Since then, I've been laid out, working on recovering as best I can with the invaluable help of more friends than I even realized I had.
So far, I've worked hard at the PT and gotten to the point where I can sit up, stand, walk with a walker, get to the bathroom (fracture pan to bedpan LEVEL UP bedpan to drop chair LEVEL UP to commode LEVEL UP to using the extension in the regular bathroom and wiping on my own LEVEL UP), fix my own food (breakfast, lunch and dinner today). The exercises still hurt like a mf and leave me wiped, but grind grind grind. It's like Final Fantasy without the level breaks. Still can't do stairs, and god knows when I'll be able to ride in a car or even type two-handed, but at least Amy's gone from worrying about 'round the clock care to being able to grab dinner tonight with her friend.
And throughout, I've been all overwhelmed and choked up at the awesome help from people all over—though the locals have been phenomenal.
So, just a note to let you all know that I appreciate this and am still working hard on my end.
(written by Josh--c&p/ed by pops)
As most of y'all know, I took a wicked whip offa my bike two weeks ago, leaving me with a broken femur and ulna. Since then, I've been laid out, working on recovering as best I can with the invaluable help of more friends than I even realized I had.
So far, I've worked hard at the PT and gotten to the point where I can sit up, stand, walk with a walker, get to the bathroom (fracture pan to bedpan LEVEL UP bedpan to drop chair LEVEL UP to commode LEVEL UP to using the extension in the regular bathroom and wiping on my own LEVEL UP), fix my own food (breakfast, lunch and dinner today). The exercises still hurt like a mf and leave me wiped, but grind grind grind. It's like Final Fantasy without the level breaks. Still can't do stairs, and god knows when I'll be able to ride in a car or even type two-handed, but at least Amy's gone from worrying about 'round the clock care to being able to grab dinner tonight with her friend.
And throughout, I've been all overwhelmed and choked up at the awesome help from people all over—though the locals have been phenomenal.
So, just a note to let you all know that I appreciate this and am still working hard on my end.
(written by Josh--c&p/ed by pops)
Friday, March 19, 2010
Help Wanted: Discreet Gentleman's Aide
Josh and Amy could use some housework help at specific days and times. If you're available and interested, get in touch with Amy at achatfie[at]gmail[dot]com. Thanks!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
klang update March 17
hi folks,
thanks so much for helping out last weekend. the visits, books, dvds, cards, etc. all made me and josh feel a lot better. he is doing much better in terms of moving around. he'll have some physical therapy visits this week which should get him up and moving around even more.i do need a bit of help with someone to be here while i have an appointment tomorrow morning and also could use some visits for help with housework and cheering josh up throughout the week. thanks to amber for agreeing to be on-call today for emergency medicine pickup coverage.
also can someone forward this to scody and send me her email addy? thanks. we have eaten 90% of her ratatouille and it was delicious.
if you can sign up to help: Doodle Calender
i kind of made up some times when visits might be nice and possible given your work/school schedules, but we're flexible. if you have an idea for another time to visit, pls email or call me to check to see if it's OK.
--amy
thanks so much for helping out last weekend. the visits, books, dvds, cards, etc. all made me and josh feel a lot better. he is doing much better in terms of moving around. he'll have some physical therapy visits this week which should get him up and moving around even more.
if you can sign up to help: Doodle Calender
i kind of made up some times when visits might be nice and possible given your work/school schedules, but we're flexible. if you have an idea for another time to visit, pls email or call me to check to see if it's OK.
--amy
Friday, March 12, 2010
Klang goes home to Palms today
brief (if that's possible for me) (see it started already) klang update.
He's gettiing sprung from RR-UCLA today & we're putting together a doodle scheduler later today as I get info from Amy, for those LA-fites who can/want to read Klang some bedtime stories. Or run some errands b/c Josh ain't running nowhere notime soon. (Triple negative--that's still a negative right? Damn, I miss Sparky Anderson)
Last night some amazing people came together to help Amy clear room in their apt. for a hospital bed and other appliances for our gentleman of leisure (space kitty & mr space kitty, Isaac & Amanda, Maureen, Carson B, cat) . And others volunteered to come & help in other ways (bookhouse, scody, and more).
Amy loquitor: we ate thai and cleaned the whole house. nicer than ever. annette cleaned the fridge and freezer and organized everything into plastic bags. a goddess. carson scrubbed the toilet and even the leaky spot behind the tank (!) and dealt with josh's "filing pile" and "art pile" (!!). it's like a team of cleaning ninjas showed up. we figured out the bed too, and will have space for josh and me and 1-3 guests at a time. perfect. thanks.
I talked to Josh for a few minutes & he was able to share some stories of life in RR-UCLA that had us both cracking up. While we were talking they strapped a mechanized boot on him to alternately stretch & flex his leg. Mecha-Klang hilarity ensued. Accompanied by the Whelk's drawings. Uncanny. Some barbs about Donna Harraway not quite getting all of the kinks out of cyborg theory. Something about being on the frontlines of cyborg praxis. And some choice expletives when they tried to get his mass vertical--with the PT folks exhorting encouragement like "The screws are weight bearing, get it? Weight bearing!" with klang responding that yeah, he got it, but the rest of the leg didn't RTFA.
We were originally coming out for spring break until the break turned out to be Josh's leg & arm. Now it looks like August unless they need us sooner. Plan on a mega-mecha-klang meetup in the swelters of SoCal August.
He's gettiing sprung from RR-UCLA today & we're putting together a doodle scheduler later today as I get info from Amy, for those LA-fites who can/want to read Klang some bedtime stories. Or run some errands b/c Josh ain't running nowhere notime soon. (Triple negative--that's still a negative right? Damn, I miss Sparky Anderson)
Last night some amazing people came together to help Amy clear room in their apt. for a hospital bed and other appliances for our gentleman of leisure (space kitty & mr space kitty, Isaac & Amanda, Maureen, Carson B, cat) . And others volunteered to come & help in other ways (bookhouse, scody, and more).
Amy loquitor: we ate thai and cleaned the whole house. nicer than ever. annette cleaned the fridge and freezer and organized everything into plastic bags. a goddess. carson scrubbed the toilet and even the leaky spot behind the tank (!) and dealt with josh's "filing pile" and "art pile" (!!). it's like a team of cleaning ninjas showed up. we figured out the bed too, and will have space for josh and me and 1-3 guests at a time. perfect. thanks.
I talked to Josh for a few minutes & he was able to share some stories of life in RR-UCLA that had us both cracking up. While we were talking they strapped a mechanized boot on him to alternately stretch & flex his leg. Mecha-Klang hilarity ensued. Accompanied by the Whelk's drawings. Uncanny. Some barbs about Donna Harraway not quite getting all of the kinks out of cyborg theory. Something about being on the frontlines of cyborg praxis. And some choice expletives when they tried to get his mass vertical--with the PT folks exhorting encouragement like "The screws are weight bearing, get it? Weight bearing!" with klang responding that yeah, he got it, but the rest of the leg didn't RTFA.
We were originally coming out for spring break until the break turned out to be Josh's leg & arm. Now it looks like August unless they need us sooner. Plan on a mega-mecha-klang meetup in the swelters of SoCal August.
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