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Hello, does anyone know a way to get in direct contact with Dr Truty or someone in his department that I can speak to, regarding trying to get my dad's scans to the Minnesota office and possibly get him in to get this Mesenteric Artery mass biopsy or resection done? His pain is getting increasingly bad, and no one in Indiana seems capable to do anything, and they're all just kicking cans back and fourth.
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@ihatesnowinindiana, to have your dad's records reviewed by Mayo Clinic pancreatic cancer experts, including Dr. Truty, start by submitting a request for an appointment here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
You can schedule a phone call with a coordinator, who will share how to securely send his scans, etc. This is the most efficient way to get him to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.
I'm so sorry to hear that he is in such pain.
Ok, that's pretty much where I've been at, just didn't know if there was anything else or anything more direct. Got appt for thursday.
Just tired of waiting around, been months of waiting. Don't get me wrong, I like all the physicians, and I respect every one of them. I just wish they'd say if it's out of their capabilities and give us time to work with. Just hate that months have been pissed away, could have done this a long time ago instead of giving stuff more time to spread.
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1 ReactionIf your dad is a Mayo Clinic patient, then you can contact your care team through the patient portal.
Lots of tips in this related discussion:
- Mayo Clinic Patient Portal: How do I find it? Do you use it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-portal/
All the best for Thursday's appointment.
Had my "appointment call" initial contact with Mayo Clinic to try and get my father in there to get his mesenteric artery growth looked at and dealt with, and they pretty much shut us down saying that blue cross blue shield isn't contracted with mayo anymore.
Wtf is a person suppose to do when one of the few places who can do anything won't accept medicare insurance and can't pay out of pocket?
Complete sympathy:
Yup, "wtf" is right.
Possible course of action:
Call the insurance company and ask them for help. They may have nurse navigators who can steer you to a really good doctor/facility to help your dad. I had Keystone Blue Cross for years and their nurses and customer service staff were really, really helpful. Mayo IS great, but there are other good places, too.
Kudos to you: You must be a wonderful person to help your dad like this! Good for you!!! Keep your chin up 🙂 Good luck. Keep us posted.
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2 ReactionsThere's many good places, just not a lot of good places that will remove mesenteric artery masses. Mayo and MD Anderson are the only 2 places I know of that are taking on those big risky surgeries.
Doctors here in Indiana can't/(won't) even biopsy it because they feel it's too risky.
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1 Reaction@ihatesnowinindiana, how frustrating and disappointing.
However, Mayo Clinic accepts Medicare patients. This may be an out of state situation. I might suggest that you call Insurance & Billing directly to make sure that all possible avenues have been explored, including financial assistance.
Here's more info about Insurance https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/insurance
Contact info: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/contact-us
My aunt got turned away from consideration as a patient at Mayo Arizona a few months ago. They told me they couldn't take her on because they were overwhelmed with new patients.
Columbia Presbyterian takes Medicare, and they have an amazing surgical team. Johns Hopkins also takes it. And both of them are excellent institutions with the capacity to handle arterial involvement (although I don't know about mesenteric artery involvement specifically). Memorial Sloan also takes Medicare.
There will be other places as well. Those are just the three I can say with certainty accept medicare and are excellent.
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2 ReactionsMy husband is a patient at Mayo Arizona right now. We are from NC and this is the best hospital he has ever been in. They DO accept Medicare.
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1 ReactionApparently not Part D or Medigap backed by Anthem. Or atleast not Indiana Medicare. Frig if I know. All I know is once his insurance info was disclosed, everything was shut down and admissions lady said we aren't continuing because there has been no contract made between Anthem and/or what have you and Mayo and to not expect that as its been that way for a few years now.
When it comes to talking to someone in a narrowing last line of defense to attempt at saving someone's life, just felt cold, callously cruel.