The home page has a request for info from anyone turned down by BS of cal for treatment.
Looks like the foundation is looking at taking action
Dennis

I read the message and it specifically deals with biologics but Resist just got denied a reasonable home light unit, A-O's wanted to give her a 4 ft panel unit for full body psoriasis. Sounds like California might have some problems with BC/BS. I have never seen a post like that on the website before.

I think Resist got a raw deal with her light box too. Hope NPF can help. A 4ft panel for full body psoriasis, are they nuts? Imbeciles.

I know! Isn't that stupid or what? Tell me I can get a 4 foot single panel unit when my Derm uses a full body and filled out paperwork for a full body home unit. But hey, Blue Shield of California would rather spent $88 per Derm's Office treatment, at almost $10,000 so far in just over a year, than pay out $5,000 one time and be done with it. Makes no sense at all. Or maybe they think it will be such an inconveinance that I will stop going to treatments (which has just about happened). The funny thing is I finally find a Psoriasis treatment that actually works for me and my insurance has to make it hard.

The funny thing is I finally find a Psoriasis treatment that actually works for me and my insurance has to make it hard.
You know that is a good statement. Ironic. I also want to say that derms don't go around writing scripts for home uvb for everyone. When they write that script they are also saying that the user is under their supervison as well. I heard my derm talk about that.

I've been dealing with Psoriasis for many years and this was the first Derm to even suggest UVB treatments. I'm so glad he did. He even explained my concerns about skin cancer with the treatments. Everything is a trade off but I was glad to discover the risks of skin cancer are very low with supervised treatments, far safer than sun tanning outside.

I have only been able to do Derm office UVB about 4 times this month so far. So I had to start all over again with a 45 second treatment. This cost Blue Shield $88. How can they not see a home full body unit wouldn't be less expensive for them?
I am willing to pay $1000 (shipped), out of my own pocket for a full body unit. I have been hitting ebay and making offers. The only problem is most of the full body units I have seen (other than the UVBioTek unit), take up a lot of space and need a special outlet.

Resist, What an ignorant insurance company.
I was having a pity party in my honor the past few weeks because I had to participate in the long drawn out process of getting my own light box. I was just approved today. I slipped in that big ticket item just in time...I'm about to get kicked off the insurance because I'm too old... mwhahaha...sometimes the little guy wins.
~Massiel

I slipped in that big ticket item just in time...I'm about to get kicked off the insurance because I'm too old... mwhahaha...sometimes the little guy wins.
~Massiel
I think it is the older you get the wiser you get! Good for you Massiel!
If you comfortable with it, I would be interrested in hearing what sort of unit you got and how it went with the insurance.

It's been about a week now and I still haven't heard anything back from NPF about the BS issues.

I think it is the older you get the wiser you get! Good for you Massiel!
If you comfortable with it, I would be interrested in hearing what sort of unit you got and how it went with the insurance.
Orginally I was planning on using the Panosal unit, but I found the company difficult to deal with, so i dropped them. After getting some advice from posts, I went with the Daavlin until http://www.daavlin.com/panels.shtml , because it looked pretty (or as appealing as a big thing with light bulbs could be). My doctor, who has no experience with this whatsoever, wrote out a prescription of my choosing. I went the 4 door 6' model.
Now, I don't have it just yet...approval came from the insurance company today. Just that took weeks and weeks. As I've mentioned before, Empire wanted me to go through a Home Medical Supplier. As you put it Misales...they don't know Jack about light units. So after demonstrating to Empire that no supplier within 100 miles of my home carried light units, they set up a case for me.
Once I was given a case, I was assigned a nurse, who had to recontact ALL of the companies I had wasted a week calling to confirm that no one had product avaliability. But the nurse was finally someone with a Name and a direct phone number that I could deal with. The custumer service reps told me a different story very time I called (which was every day).
Next, I my doctor submitted documentation of the severity of my condition. Additionaly, I had to provide evidence that traditional methods of treatment failed to provide enduring relief. The nurse also wanted evidence that the light treatments would be effective (do I have a crystal ball??)
The vendor (Daavlin) also had documents that needed to be filled out. That was easy enough, everything was provided on their website and their representatives were easy to reach email and phone. So far I'm very pleased with the company (thanks for the suggestion Misales).
So here I am...and its not over yet. I must have been in la la land thinking that this process would take a few weeks. HA!
~Massiel

I understand your frustration before being approved. I spent months doing the same thing only be approved for a single panel 4 foot unit. But I'm not wasting my time getting it. I need a full body unit....period.

You shouldn't...its completely irrational that they would offer it to you and expect satisfaction. Who uses a 4' model anyway? Not to offend anyone who is vertically challenged (i'm 5'1"...i really could do without the extra 11 inches). Perhaps someone who just has it on their legs? There is always a chance that it would spread. Seems like a waste to me...maybe I'm missing the big picture.
~Massiel

The big picture is Blue Shield doesn't want to spend the money on a full body unit but is very willing to spend the money on Derm office UVB treatments. I guess their reasoning is you might not need long term UVB treatments at the Derm's making the overall cost less. This would only happen if you stopped responding to UVB treatments, which I guess is possible.
But the real question is, why medical insurance is allowed to deny a treatment that can help and most likely safe them money?

That is correct, obviously you need to get the one you need but if you are severe and have full body coverage I don't see why a full body panel, at the minimum would be prescribed.
As for approval and the supplier, I think if you are going throught the insurance process it doesn't much matter who you have, it is a funny process that does take weeks in most cases, at least it did in mine and now in Massiel's. So don't give up if you need it, jump through the hoops and fill out the paperwork and hopefully you will be rewarded with the ability to do your treatments at home.
A note Massiel on Daavlin. I went to pick mine up and they gave me a tour of their facility. It's a really nice place and they make your light unit to your specifications for you. So a lot of care goes into the process and you do get a brand new unit. I'm glad they could help you out.

Call the NPF again and ask for Eve, she gets things done, or at least has for me in the past. If Cali BS is causing problems with higher priced options, I don't see why they can't include you in their research for Biologics. Hopefully they will take some class action against this particular companies ways if they are not honoring their insurance contracts reasonably.

if you are severe and have full body coverage I don't see why a full body panel, at the minimum would be prescribed.
You don't? Or did you mean "wouldn't be prescribed."

For full body psoriasis coverage.......full body panel minimum! and for some a surround might even be necessary.
What happens with a 4 footer is that you get overlapping exposure. Since we do not want to burn ourselves, moving a 4 foot unit up and down etc could really put someone at risk for burning. where the overlap of coverage occurs. Even with a full body panel one must take care to properly dispense the rays so that you get an even coverage or only treat the same areas all the time in the same fashion.
I don't know who thought the 4 footer was good enough for you Resist but my guess is that they have no knowledge of what and how the uvb is applied/dosed. Almost malpractice in my opinion. Unless you're treating a small portion of you body, a small unit is just about usless and dangerous to boot.

A note Massiel on Daavlin. I went to pick mine up and they gave me a tour of their facility. It's a really nice place and they make your light unit to your specifications for you. So a lot of care goes into the process and you do get a brand new unit. I'm glad they could help you out.
What type of specifications? You've got me very curious...
~Massiel

They build it the way you order it. Size, amount of lamps, controller...did you get the dosemitry or the timer for instance? They also don't build it until it's paid for. I sort of found that interresting as you can really never get an old one that has been sitting around on the shelf somewhere. The people that build them is all that they do, American Made. They are also tested prior to shipping. I picked mine up but I saw a number of them that were crated and everything is done nice and neat.
The big thing that made me go with them is that my derm used them at their office. If they are good enough for a doc's office, I figured they were good enough for me too. I also liked the fact that I didn't need to get a code to make it work. To me that's like asking for permission to take a pill. They also are attractive. I have mine in my bedroom and it doesn't look too out of place considering it's a medical device.

I still haven't heard anything back from the foundation.

I live in Florida, but have bc/bs out of California through my husband. They picked up my enbrel ( at a $100.00 a month) after my derm's office made a point that this was the drug for me ( they had to state reasons why other less expensive drugs would not be considered in my case).
Even though we may have the same insurance company, there are many different plans within each company.
At the time all the e-mails were being sent back and forth between the office and bc/bs ,the nurse at my derm's office told me that insurance companies have been sued for not paying for prescriptions that Doctor's have recommended.

Hello all I have a UVB unit (four bulbs) with each bulb being 69 inches tall. This unit has been very gently used and has not been used for months b/c UVB failed to provide the effect it should have. I then went to the dr. office and did the narrow band which also failed to effect my p. I would set the time for double the exposure I was to have, put on my protective eyewear and begin the exposure - half way thru - I would simply turn around and finish the treatment. The unit is free standing on rollers, very stable. It has the lock-out feature and is from National Biologic Corp. (UVB604) I have wondered what to do with this unit for some time - did not want to just pitch it - but it has to be utilized with your physican's treatment plan. Please let me know if anyone is interested in buying it. I live in IL and shipping would need to be considered in the selling cost. PLEASE NOTE - YOU WILL NEED TO USE THIS IN GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY YOUR OWN DOCTOR! This unit is not one that can be used outside of those guidelines. Your physican will give you the information needed to format the machine to his treatment plan. Once those have expired - and usually you are seen in the office - he will give you the next code to enter. This is a protection factor for your safety. Let me know if you are interested! cairwin@hotmail.com

I have kind of a random/silly question....when you do the light treatment, do you actually get a tan??