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“We couldn’t find treatment”
Kevin called Health Advocate about his 48 year-old father, David, whose stroke left him with profound weakness, slurred speech and cognitive difficulties compounded by a blocked artery. David’s treating neurosurgeon advised an extra-intracranial carotid bypass procedure that was denied by his health plan who considered it experimental. Kevin's Personal Health Advocate (PHA) identified a research protocol that performed the procedure as part of a study at a leading medical center, but David did not qualify for the study, based on information sent by his physician. Delving deeper into his history, the PHA discovered a past transient ischemic episode that fulfilled the study’s criteria, allowing David to have the surgery with all costs beyond “usual care” covered. “Thanks to the procedure my father now thinks and speaks more clearly.” |