UC Health System and Blue Shield Come to Insurance Resolution

The UCLA Health Center and Blue Shield finally came to a resolution regarding the insurance flap between the two parties. Just a recap, the last contract between the two parties ended December 31, 2011 and all UC health facilities have been out of Blue Shield's network since then. Suffice to say, this has caused of a lot of stress for me along with, I'm sure, many other patients receiving care at UCLA and other UC health facilities. I am grateful for Blue Shield's Continuity of Care Services waiver program, but it has not been without it's share of problems and heartache. Starting September 1, 2012, the UCLA Health Center and it's affiliates will once again be within Blue Shield's network. The new contract will be effective through June 30, 2015.

At this point, I will remain at Cedars Sinai for now. One reason that has lessened any confusion on my part of whether to go back to UCLA is the good rapport between Dr. Lai and both Drs. Hu and Chung at Cedars. So far, the sharing of information between Cedars and UCLA has been seemless. Dr. Hu and Dr. Chung both know Dr. Lai well and have seem open in including Dr. Lai if need be. I contacted Dr. Lai about the news and he just wants what's best for me.

If for some reason, I do need another biopsy, this will be a tougher dilemma. I have read and heard that Dr. Wu at Cedars is a very well respected neurosurgeon who is also responsive to his patients. However, Dr. Liau at UCLA has set such a high standard that it would be difficult not to go back to her. Additionally, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center nursing staff also set a  very high standard.

Overall though, I do feel very grateful that I now have choices again and UCLA is again on the table along with UCI and the other UC health facilities.

Brief Summary

A brief summary of what's been going on.

June (throughout) - Increased "episodic" activity

June 25 - Met with Dr. Lai for the last time to review my MRI scan which revealed everything stable though there were somethings that were disconcerting, probably due to my own concerns because of increased activity. From various cuts and angles, the tumor seemed slightly bigger. However, comparisons for April MRI to June MRI did not exactly match. Here is scan sent to me by Dr. Lai a couple days after our meeting. So thankful to have Dr. Lai as my doctor. This assuaged things somewhat.

So this was my last meeting as UCLA and Blue Shield have not yet come to terms on a new contract. We spoke about my options and I decided to go to Cedars Sinai. Dr. Lai agreed it's probably the best place to go. He knows several doctors over there and have good rapport with them so the exchange of information will be easier. The doctors Dr. Lai recommended were Dr. Hu (neuro-onco) and Dr. Chung (epileptologist).

July 10 - Met with Dr. Jethro Hu at Cedars for the first time. Dr. Hu will be my neuro-oncologist moving forward from here. Based upon his review of my scans, he also believed my tumor is stable. It's a relief to know that his opinion is consistent with Dr. Lai's. My next appointment with him is scheduled for August 21 of which I will also have my next MRI scan. Dr. Hu also increased the Vimpat dosage from 300mg up to 400mg to see if it might help with containing these episodes. So far it seems to have as my episodes have come down a bit. Haven't had one the past few days.

I'll be meeting with Dr. Chung on August 6 to discuss about my ongoing episodes and to see if a continuous video EEG will be needed. A C-EEG is where a person is hooked up and monitored for a 24-hour or longer period of time. This type of EEG may better determine if a person's episodes are seizures or not. The longer monitoring duration in itself increases the chances of "catching" a person's episodes. This, therefore, permits monitoring of a person's brain activity during their episode to determine if the activity is a seizure or something else.