remabbitt

I am a home health infusion therapy nurse in north Florida. In the past year, we have admitted 7 patients who were diagnosed with Lyme, for IVAB therapy. Several of these folks are chronic and are requiring long-term antibiotic therapy. 3 of these 7 have made amazing progress! All of these patients have had to go outside of our area and most have gone out of state to find physicians who are Lyme literate. Unfortunately, many, many of our local medical professionals (and our largest HOM provider )do not believe that Lyme is in the south. Our agency is working hard to become Lyme literate and we have one local physician who is also learning all he can about Lyme. This doc is now managing most of our Lyme patients and he is regular communication with Jemsek Clinic. Our problem now is the Insurance company who has begun to deny authorization for treatment for our Lyme patients. We are so new to Lyme and would appreciate anything that would help us to advocate for our patients. Our first patient started on IVABs last July and is just now begining to recover from the devistating effects of Lyme to her CNS and cardiac systems and expects to actually go back to work in the summer. Another gentleman came to us 6 weeks ago. He could not walk without assistance, had difficulty speaking, generalized muscle weakness and flaccidity and loss of cognitive function (he was previously diagnosed with ALS). He was started on Ceftriaxone (Rochepin) therapy and in 6 weeks, he's no longer needing assistance for walking, is regaining muscle tone and strength (he works out every day now) and has had marked improvement. His HMO is denying any further coverage. Can anyone help us fight these HOM's? Desperate in Florida!!!!