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PLEASE HELP US, THEY'RE KILLING US INTENTIONALLY. We're the injured workers in Kentucky.
I write to you with an urgent matter, a subject untouched by the regular media. It's of a political nature across the land which effects millions of workers across America.
By helping me and shedding light on this serious subject, you would be helping an untold limit of people.
These people are the injured workers in America, anyone which is covered by Workmens Compensation Insurance.
I was injured twice while working for United Parcel Service and their insurance carrier is Liberty Mutual Ins. back in 1981 and again in 1983 which rendered me totally occupationally and physically disabled for the remainder of my life. I suffered a left ankle injury and a low back injury.
My first doctor's prescription was written in 1986. It took four very long years to conclude my disability fight for my benefits, finally adjudicated in 1989 having found me disabled since 1985 whereupon they had to pay me four years back pay as well.
This insurance company was held responsible for my medical needs so long as I remained disabled, which has been my misfortune to be since 1985.
When this insurance company was notified of my medical need for a wheelchair, they simply said NO. Years of my studying the work comp law's of Kentucky, starting in 2000, a task I didn't not wish to be burdened with, but it's either we workers learn the law's to represent ourselves before the Workers Claims Office when medical fee disputes arise or we go without our medical care and medical device needs. I couldn't understand how they could just outright refuse my care when they were ORDERED to do so.
Someone at the Claims Office anonymously sent me some of those laws back in 2000 and I began my fight for my wheelchair. I won. I even had to overturn the decision of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. Just a few short months ago, I was informed that these aren't true Judges of the normal Courts of Law, they were merely appointed to this position by the governors office due to the overwhelming cases in each State. Which I don't feel they should be given such a Title to begin with in my opinion of course, as it's mere application is misleading to the general public guiding us to believe they are real judges of the justice system.
Also, when the truth of any work disabled persons needs are denied by these insurance cartels, they ONLY have 30 days to yea or nay our doctor's recommended care or ELSE THEY have to reopen the case themselves under what is termed "MEDICAL FEE DISPUTE", placing the burden onto them to prove the disabled party doesn't need what ever care is prescribed. For 15 yrs. I was denied my wheelchair and during this time, I spent the latter 4 of that, as a prisoner in my home, because I couldn't stand or walk long or far enough to get out and do anything. I was forced into a small world. Kroger grocery stores and Wal Mart was my only ventures, because they were the only shopping centers which provided electric carts for the disabled to use. I had to call ahead to request there assistance by bringing their electric cart out to the handicapped parking area in order for me to shop in their stores.
I contemplated suicide on a daily basis due to being cut off from society. Forced to be a prisoner, due to the neglect and abuse of the insurance company.
I have searched this State from top to bottom and sideways for help, to no avail. I've sent hundreds of emails to our elected officials, all 100 State Representatives, 38 Senator's, the Congressmen as well as the Governor himself, our past governor Fletcher. I have all the proof you'd need. I have everything in chronological order from beginning to end. I even have taped recorded conversations as well as those with the insurance company and their threatening me, laughing at me when I'd call crying, why they do people as they do, and hanging up on me when I'd call. To their cutting my medications off which would kill me if they ever did so, to countless other conversations.
When I contacted all the political figures in this State of Kentucky, I cried out for help, they simply don't understand, and others which aren't injured such as media either don't care or get the picture of the deliberate abuse and neglect that is going on here and I'm convinced in other State's as well. I have documentation from the Workers Claims Office head man, telling me they receive 12 calls per day every day the entire year, of disgruntled injured workers crying out for their help. Even they laugh at me or make snide remarks or misguide us when we must rely on THEM for information and assistance.
I had plans of campaigning across Kentucky to 20 cities and then onto our Capitol Frankfort, KY as this would be my only way of seeking out the other thousands of disabled workers in hopes of banning us together to march on our Capitol to confront and hold accountable our politicians. I had even set up a bank account for donations for the cause as I can not afford to pay the gas expense or lodging expenses to cover this State. I raised 100 dollars from a kind gentleman, the manager of Target stores here in Owensboro which donated it right out of his own pocket, which was spent to pay for all the phone calls I'd been out in my efforts.
Though disabled, and uncertain as to whether or not I could even endure such a trip, I'd be willing to endure the excruciating pain to attempt it in order to stop this insane behavior by these insurance companies.
These companies are their own watchdogs and they are killing us off by refusing to adhere to their own Court Orders.
We cannot pay for another attorney to fight for what we've already been awarded. There are no pro bono attorney's which will assist us. They are in fact forbidden by law, to even be paid on a Reopening under Medical Fee Dispute IF we had the money. Sounds unbelievable, but it's true. So, we injured workers are left out here to their demise and design to kill us off one by one.
I posed the question to the Worker Claims office, HAD they taken a census as to how many of us injured workers have committed suicide ? They said no of course. I told them that they should. They are part of the problem as well.
Ever since I won my wheelchair and electric lift for my old van, as I also attempted to get a van from the insurance company as well, because had it not been for my injuries I wouldn't need a van to begin with. You won't believe why the Workers Claims Board turned me down on that request, well Sir, only because they had no other cases where it had been awarded. Now had I already been versed well in the laws back then, I could have appealed that to the Supreme Court as that was NOT a viable excuse to deny me. But we are run over with delays, continuous red tape, in their hopes we'll just give up, shut up and DIE off.
When I had written the Governor for help, what do you suppose he did ? He sent my darn email to the Workers Claims Office, heck they are as stated part of the problem. They're a bunch of political cronies which have been there for years and years. They secure their jobs by doing nothing for us. A bunch of pencil pushers documenting all the daily calls for help.
We have no voice Sir, and I'm begging you to give us one. This could be so far reaching when others which are facing the same issues of denied care come out of the woodwork.
I had high hopes of getting a non profit organization started which would allow medical suppliers to donate apparatus to the medical needs of workers while they are themselves undergoing Medical Fee Disputes. If only one big story were to hit the airwaves, then people would come out in droves. IF that is, there was a National News Story.
Now to share with you, what I am again facing. Now this same insurance carrier, plans on stopping my medical insurance all together, they have no LEGAL right to do so, but whose here to help me. I'm too injured and sick to prevail much longer. If they succeed in their devious task I will be dying, that is without question. That would stop my medications to which I cannot be taken off, unless of course I was to deal with the excruciating pain level I live with on a 24/7 basis. See, I've needed 5 surgeries for some time now. The steroids which had been administered to me for 26 yrs. by injection to my joints or pill form has destroyed my hips, called osteonecrosis, (dead bone) for us plan speaking folk. It has destroyed my blood veins where now I can't even have IV's ran in my arms should I need one, and as you probably well know, hospitals want to stick that in your arm every time you go to the ER. Mine burst, or blow out, so now they must run a pic line directly to my heart. This is scary as well as risky, but they (medical personnel) nor I have a choice here.
The years without the medically necessary wheelchair destroyed my right knee as I had to rely on it totally due to my left ankle injury which wouldn't allow me to stand on it long while waiting in grocery lines or what ever. It also has a torn meniscus and now the additional dead bone, so it too must be totally replaced. Then there is the left ankle which needs total replacing but since they denied me the wheelchair and I was forced to walk on it all those years, it has pretty much decayed, there is no joint space left, nor any cartilage and doubtful they can put a replacement joint in it. To fuse it would cause additional foot problems because since the ankle joint no longer moves as it should, the bones in ones foot attempt to compensate which then destroys the bones in ones foot.
Lastly, the fifth surgery I'm in need of and have been for many years is a back implant, this is a Medtronic device which is implanted within the spine and a box imbedded within the abdomen, this device is suppose to stop the pain message from reaching the brain. This would allow me to at least stand without pain hopefully, as well as stop the pain from the sciatic nerve which runs down the back of both my leg's from hurting as they do. Well the insurance insisted I go to a psychologist and argued this was mandatory to all patients which were advised to have this device. This idiot they sent me to, made his stupid argument implying that I wanted this device to get it's euphoric effect. I couldn't help but laugh when I read his report and had to write him in response to it. See, he didn't even have the same device which I was recommended, he thought I was going to get the one which has morphine which dispenses it to the spinal nerves. I had already read about this device and no way was I going to agree to that type because people had been killed by it administering the entire 90 day supply of the morphine in their bodies due to their malfunction. I was merely having the glorified tens unit implanted. It had nothing to do with medicine of any kind. These are the idiots we injured are dealing with again prolonging our medical care.
When I had clued the insurance company in on the laws of work comp, that they had the burden of proof and they had to reopen the case, NOT ME, they did so, in October of 2006, well it still isn't resolved. My doctor's had prescribed aqua-cise program which is warm water swimming for 20 plus years since it's the only means I have to exercise, their denying this has lead to muscle atrophy throughout my body. They also prescribed a queen size tempur pedic bed which works much the same as a hospital bed because I can no longer rely on my right knee to support me getting in and out of bed as I can't do so on my left ankle either. Then they also recommended the hip replacements, the knee replacement, the ankle replacement and the back implant, all of which they've held up. This joke of a court system is suppose to be limited on the days they have to respond and resolve these issues, but as you can see, they have not done so. The wannabe judge Richard Joiner, held a phone conference July 2nd, of 2007 all transcribed from my taping recording the conversation since I am my own representative and have the legal right to do so, he prejudiced himself stating that he was only considering the evidence the attorney for the big bad insurance company had submitted. When asked what about mine, he replied, send it in. I then responded Sir, it was sent October of 2006, I don't suppose the Judge has had the opportunity to review it ? He emphatically came back with a resounding NO. I then inquired as to how he can make an unbiased opinion or ruling on this case if he had not done so. NO COMMENT.
I again inform you, I have everything which documents and substantiates everything I've written here and MORE.
We injured workers need a voice a large VOICE and I'm again begging you to tell our story. I have been to my knowledge the ONLY person in this State which has gone to the lengths as I've been forced to do through no wish of my own to fight for my own life and medical needs. Those 12 calls per day are as the head man stated a low estimate of people which actually call in to them for help. I would sooner guess, I made a lot of those calculated calls which are on record, approximately 30 throughout this past year. I've repeatedly asked the court, where in the law does it give them the right to come in 26 years after my first accident and disability and 24 yrs. after my second to just take away my benefits, NO ONE HAS YET ANSWERED THIS QUESTION ! That's because they DON'T have the right to. Nothing in the work comp law gives them the right to come in and take them away. But whose going to stop them ? Coverage could, or would. Someone needs to be held accountable here, not just for what they have done and are doing to me, but the thousands of others. Every worker in this State and others I'd guess, can face this same prejudice, bias, arrogant, illegal corrupt conspiracy as we workers face today, yesterday and continue to face tomorrow, UNLESS they are stopped, attention is brought to the public. See Sir, we have no avenue to turn to, as EVERYTHING we deal with MUST BE DEALT with by the WORKERS CLAIMS OFFICE. We can't holler to disability groups out there, as there is no help for US. OUR cases are in a BOX. Please let us out of here. PLEASE !!!!
Did I mention, I'm a shut in ? For all intended purposes I am, I only go out twice a month and that kills me to have to do that. I go to my family doctor's once a month to get my prescriptions and once to the grocery IF I have money to do that, which is rarely. I'm only 56 yrs old, yep, bet you thought I was ancient huh ? LOL Guess I would be according to your age of 39.
They have a benefit review hearing scheduled some time in February, I've already called the wannabe judge and informed him I WOULD NOT BE THERE. I'm not putting my body on display and being forced to endure additional physical pain just to sit there with a prejudice judge which is going to rule as he see's fit anyway and as he has already testified to his plans of doing so. He further stated it'd be up to >HIM
not my doctor as to whether I needed my medications, of which I've been on for 22 or more years. He's going to set himself up as a darn doctor ? Give me a break, as Brian?, Stossel would say. My doctor's have already stated in numerous medical records, I'll be on these medicines for the rest of my life, and that it would be dangerous to stop them as well as not in my best interest.
So in closing, if someone doesn't stop this madness, then I Sir will most definitely die. Not maybe, but with certainty.
I have little hope left me, and will use that glint of hope waiting to hear a favorable report that you'd take on this issue and shine a bright light for all to see. Name this and other insurance companies which practice abusing and neglecting our medical care and needs.
I thank you humbly for your time in reading this lengthy plea.
Cherokeetallwm@aol.com
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