[GVARC] Local Ham Radio Operator, WA6CXN featured in Sunday Herald

[Pat Barthelow]

Sorry to those interest groups that this message is not specific as to 
following content of the group, but this is a message to find Non monetary 
help for a friend in need.....


From: "Pat Barthelow" <meamonte@hotmail.com>
To: meamonte@hotmail.com
Subject: Local Radio Operator, WA6CXN featured in Sunday Herald
Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2002 16:54:20 -0800

Hello Folks,

Hans Hofmann, WA6CXN, as most of you know, has seen both heaven and
hell in the last year. Heaven, in the miracle of good chance that he
was one the 2 pecent or so of those in need of a heart transplant,
that found a match before they died.  Hell in the continuous
pounding of Bureaukratsia he has to endure and  keep on top of
relating to his  ongoing medical care.   His troubles only began
after the heart transplant, a year ago, as the various agencies who
handle Medicare and Insurance coverage argued with each other, and
Hans, then stepped back, after finding and describing a loophole, in
my opinion, shirked  their responsibilities for supplying the life
critical immunosuppressive  drugs Hans needs to stay alive.

Hans will be featured in the Monterey Herald tomorrow (Sunday) as
they do a story on his predicament.  He is hemoraging  to the tune of
$3,500 per month for his immunosuppressive drugs, which he was told
would be covered under Medicare, early last year.  Since then, a
technicality of timing of his transplant operation has been
uncovered, and, combined with recently revised or clarified rules,
is denying him of ongoing immunosuppressive drug coverage.
  The medical establishment mis-informed Hans in writing, and verbally, and 
via the error-ridden standard Medical Advisory pamphlets that are handed out 
to heart transplant candidates.  (Newest edition pamphlets have been 
changed)
Hans' net income of MINUS $1500 per month before (not including) food, 
family,and shelter places him in the too-rich category for other
MediCal programs.  (His heart medicine cost alone is greater than
his total retirement income from all sources.)  Had he been given
the straight (true) scoop on policies and precedures early on,
before having the transplant, he could have taken steps (a
different path) to ensure ongoing coverage, than are/is not
available to him now.

What can WE do?

Take the Sunday Herald article (tomorrow) and copy and clip it and
send a copy along with a letter to Congressman Sam Farr, and rattle
Mr. Farr's cage to see if Farr can apply pressure to Medicare, and
Cigna (Medicare insurance carrier) to admit to their errors, and to
do the right thing.   Sam Farr was  approached, earlier, but
shrugged his shoulders, and said he could or would do nothing.  I believe 
enough rattling of Farr's cage, by enough people might move him towards 
doing the right thing.  We have approached State Senator McPherson, and are 
awaiting a response from his office

A sufficiently informed lawyer with medical case experience
should be able to move this case in the right direction.

Note the recent news-worthy story about the incarcerated Felon who
got the full scholarship, a free ride (1 million dollars)  for his
continued life in prison with his heart transplant.

See if you can get some  Tree-hugger/Taliban/Terrorist Al-Quaida
hugger ACLU attorneys to allocate some of their energy, expertise,
and love to Hans' case.

Pray for Hans and his family.

Call or email Hans with any ideas you can come up with.
Hans Hofmann  WA6CXN
(831) 394-1741
mail: joachim42@yahoo.com
Address:   Mescal St Seaside CA 93955

Call me if you want more info.
Pat, AA6EG  (831) 905-6652
meamonte@hotmail.com


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