Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services
Angel MedFlight Battles Insurance Company for Accident Victim
Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services / 05.10.2009 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A summer vacation wastragically cut short for a Massachusetts man visiting Newport Beach,California. While bodysurfing on September 17, Steve Baker*, 25, was violentlystruck down by a wave. Baker was thrown to the ocean floor, crushing his C1-C2vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. Upon receiving news of the accident, his entire family was devastated. The oncerobust Baker must now blink his eyes to communicate and relies on a ventilatorto breathe. He will most likely require treatment, care and therapy for therest of his life. Following a spinal surgery on September 21, Baker's familycontacted his insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, toschedule an air medical flight to transfer Baker to Boston Medical Center(BMC). BMC features The New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center, one ofonly 14 federally funded National Model Systems Centers in the country. Thehospital is located just 25 miles from Baker's home in Massachusetts. 'Blue Cross did not deny coverage but dragged its feet in response to thefamily's request despite federal law requiring health insurance companies torespond to emergency transportation requests within 48 hours,' said MichaelWard, staff counsel at Angel MedFlight. Unable to secure a definitive answer from Blue Cross, on September 24, thefrustrated family contacted Angel MedFlight, an Arizona-based air ambulanceservice that provides worldwide air medical transportation. Jeremy Freer, AngelMedFlight's CEO, immediately took action. He reviewed Baker's insurancecertificate of coverage and determined that it included air medical transferswhen warranted. Freer conducted medical research, conferred with Maguire'sattending physician and surgeon, as well as the staff attorneys and physicianat Angel MedFlight, then submitted a letter to Blue Cross on behalf of Baker.Freer went on to contact the patient's primary care physician to coordinate thetransfer and to discuss in-flight procedures and treatment. 'I don't know all of the work that Jeremy did for us, but I know he tried hishardest to get the flight approved,' explained Baker's father, Tom. 'We justwanted to get Steve back to Boston so he could get the care he needs and beclose to all of us.' The Angel MedFlight staff continued to contact Blue Cross, providing all of thenecessary documentation to expedite the approval process. Ten days after theinitial request, Blue Cross finally authorized Maguire's flight to return toMassachusetts for care. Ironically, Angel MedFlight, the organization that wasso instrumental in securing approval for the flight, was precluded by BlueCross from transporting Baker. Blue Cross disregarded Baker's request to useAngel MedFlight and, instead, selected some other air ambulance provider. 'We were disappointed that Angel MedFlight wasn't allowed to fly Steve toMassachusetts,' stated Tom Baker. 'We're not surprised that Blue Cross prevented us from conducting the flight,'said Freer. 'We are first and foremost a patient advocate and Blue Cross has nointerest in benefitting a company that fights as hard as we do for our clients.We are very pleased that Steve will be able to receive treatment at BostonMedical and we are calling this a major success. Our entire staff was moved byhis tragedy and we were determined to assist knowing that we might not receivea penny. Sure, we're a little disappointed that Blue Cross prevented us fromconducting the flight so that we could have assured quality care throughout theflight, but we are thankful that our persistence paid off and that Blue Crosswas required to cover Steve's flight home.' * The patient's name has been changed to protect his privacy. About Angel MedFlight: Angel MedFlight is a full service provider of medicalair and ground transport. Our mission includes providing excellence in the airand ground ambulance industry. We use only the best aircraft, equipment andpersonnel. We deliver on our promises, and we go to great lengths to makepatient transport as smooth, comfortable, and worry-free as possible. The Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services logo is available athttp://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6276 CONTACT: Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services Kim Halloran, Director of Business Development 877-264-3570 khalloran@angelmedflight.com http://www.angelmedflight.com/ News Source: NASDAQ OMX 05.10.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services United States Phone: Fax: E-mail: Internet: ISIN: US9901161540 WKN: End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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