This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

[lazydean]

I am searching for Dr. Aratas ph.# or website.

[Cece]

It was just posted in the CCSVI Treatment Available in the US Now!!! thread. He's with the Pacific interventionalists group.

[lazydean]

Oh, ok...............thanx.

[fogdweller]

In case you don't have it yet, phone number (949) 221-0129

e-mail: is ccsvi.pi@gmail.com

[lazydean]

Thanx, Dean.

[turbotaguy]

I just spoke to them this afternoon hoping to set up my appointment. They let me know that they are no longer working with insurance companies. Cash only. They will help you with any documents and codes you need to try and work with the insurance, but they aren't doing it. They said their website will be updated shortly to reflect that.

[val57gal]

Guess I slipped in under the wire.

I would assume they got so much grief from insurance companies they had to stop. I know my co was reluctant to pay up, even with MRVs showing blockage.

[jamit]

Too profitable with all the Canadians paying cash that we end up being able to get nobody to file for insurance coverage where they will get less.

They don't even have any experience.

All about the buck oh well, they can get away with it for a little while, and perhaps when they run out of canadians more doctors are on-line and we will remember who were simply out to make a buck

[val57gal]

@Jamit,

I think you are making some unfounded assumptions here. Dr. Arata doesn't have his own clinic--he works through hospitals, where most of the cost is. For instance, for my first procedure he charged my ins co about $6,000, while the hospital charged $33,000. (Of course, ins only paid about 1/10th of that once they negotiated it down. THAT'S where the real injustice lies--cash patients pay more so ins cos can pay less.)

I don't think Dr A's group is making a fortune off CCSVI, and they are taking a chance of getting in trouble with the Society of IRs. And if you knew the hoops they have had to jump through to get my ins to pay, you wouldn't accuse them of profiting from desperate MS patients.

[Music]

Well said val57gal!

From one Canadian who has no choice at the moment but to go elsewhere and gladly pay cash.

Don't think we should be negative towards those willing to help ALL of us.

[selkie]

It's an off label treatment - they ask for cash because it's unlikely most insurance companies will pay anything.

Until we can get CCSVI recognized as a real condition, insurance companies probably won't pay for much if any of the tests/treatment.

Don't blame the doctors who are trying to give us treatment when before this we had to go to Poland. They don't take insurance either.

We're stuck between a rock and a hard place, but so are the doctors that are trying to help us.

[jamit]

From their website "Dr Arata left hospital based practice and started Southern California’s first free standing Interventional Medicine practice in 2005. This matured into Pacific Interventionalists, a multispecialty group practice, specializing in Interventional Medicine." sounds like he is at least part owner. I don't know why he would have to run through hoops to get insurance coverage. It is work yes, but that is the case for all treatment.

You say 'THAT'S where the real injustice lies--cash patients pay more so ins cos can pay less' No cash patients pay more because they DO NOT pay insurance premiums. I did not have insurance for a number of years, because of MS the premium was so high I saved up premiums and negotiated all treatment. You would never have to pay what you see them charge on your insurance.

I guess here only big pharma and neurologists are going for the mighty buck, whereas even ccsvi inexperienced IRs are sacred. I don't have a problem with IRs making whatever they can get away with, I just don't want to pay a lot of money for inexperience, but obviously lots of other people don't mind.

But please they needed to take insurance to get on the map in the first place or you val probably would not have contacted them and reported here in the first place.

I wish you good luck he sounds like he has plenty of vein experience and will hopefully learn quick and give you relief the seoncd time around.

[Cece]

So we have the Arizona group and now Dr. Arata both choosing to not take insurance. (Any others?)

I suppose it is less risk to take cash-only patients. If they accept insurance and rack up a bunch of costs and doctor hours, then find out that the insurance won't pay up (which would take a few months to find out), they'd have racked up a lot of unpaid treatments in those months.

[selkie]

Exactly Cece. That's what many doctors do anyway, not just those treating CCSVI - where I live there are many general MDs who will not accept insurance because the insurance companies won't pay many times. So the patients pay cash, and the MDs help them with the paperwork so they can get reimbursed.

Part of the reason for that where I live is doctors are being driven out of state because of the high cost of malpractice insurance not to mention my state is among the highest ranking in cost of living.

Any IR who is willing to help us deserves appreciation. I am so glad I don't have to go to Poland or Bulgaria as I'd never make it that far.