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Workcomp1 Advocate Letter to Senator Harry Reid

Dear Senator Reid,
 
I write with disturbing, and really quite horrific news about a specific case within a seldom mentioned arena of the health care industry----Workers Compensation Insurance-----a case which is occurring in Las Vegas.
 
For injured workers, the medical insurance and monetary benefits are a necessity in these United States, and in a perfect world, a savior for those who sustain life changing conditions due to serious injury in the workplace.
 
However, the system simply does not work as a savior.  Prior to becoming disabled, one of my career paths was that of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and in five years, I likely handled over 1000 cases.  I am currently an editor at the nationwide Disability Digest, and an advocate for disabled individuals.
 
75% of the Worker's Comp I handled were fraught with unnecessary delays, and generally capricious behavior on the part of the Insurance carrier's re-hab coordinator toward the injured worker.  It was not uncommon for my clients to have experienced arbitrary halting of monthly benefit checks.  But there is more, much more.
 
For the sake of brevity (not my long suit) I will give you some facts which can be substantiated by several physicians, and particularly one caring pain management specialist in Nevada who intervened on behalf of the injured worker in question.  To date, he has not been paid for his services rendered over an eight month period.
 
Mr. Ron Markowicz, until three years ago, was a highly respected and creative food and beverage director of a Las Vegas golf and country club.
 
He slipped and fell in the kitchen, severely injuring his back, requiring immediate surgery.  His head also slammed on the cement floor, and continues to suffer from horrible headaches.
 
The short version of this tale can be summarized as such:
 
The surgery was botched.  Metal fragments remain in his spine and have worked their way into surrounding soft  tissue.  In order to reduce excruciating pain in his neck and head, he requires injections which effectively burn his nerve endings.
 
He now has two physicians who have recommended he seek further and immediate treatment at the UCLA hospital.
 
But, he has to pay for all this privately.  His Workers Comp insurance carrier refuses to authorize any further medical procedures.  Because the system is litigious in nature, all activity grinds to a halt once the Insurance carrier is aware of surgical mistakes----they react by putting their head in the sand and no amount of legal intervention can get them to alter their behavior.  These are the facts.  And they do not care what happens to the injured worker.
 
If this isn't an example for needed reform in the health care industry, I don't know what is.
 
Ron is very seriously injured, and after eight months of attempting to help, I am frustrated beyond belief.  I have contacted Congresswomen Titus on several occasions (as have many members of The Disability Digest).  I have spoken with several representatives from the Governor's Office.  They promise to look into it----then nothing.  The Las Vegas Review Journal interviewed Ron (his doctor took time to take part in the interview)  The publisher buried the story.
 
It is rather obvious who is running the show.  They have effectively silenced Ron's attorney, as well.  And in the vocational rehab work world, the Insurance carriers simply gave cases to rehab firms who were more inclined to do the carrier's bidding.  In other words, 'get this file closed as soon as possible.'
 
Here is the company responsible for Ron Markowicz's situation.
 
http://crawfordandcompany.com  I guess that name scares a lot of people.
 
Ron is in so much pain that he cannot even bend over and pick up his two year old daughter. Can you imagine?  She wonders what is wrong with her daddy, and cries because of his pain.  This is not weeks or even month of intractable pain----it is years now.
 
On top of all else, and because of their resultant financial situation, the Markowicz's are facing home foreclosure.  Not just facing it, they are in the final steps----the next being eviction.
 
I cannot conceive of a worse set of conditions any human being could face, particularly when help is supposed to be at hand.  We should all be ashamed of the Workers Comp system.
 
I will close with this thought.  Although convoluted beyond belief, I sense this situation can be remedied with a couple of calls from your astute staff.  You will be saving a human life, saving a young family, and hopefully bringing light to a system badly in need of regulation and effective oversight.
 
Thank you in advance.  Blessings to you and your beautiful family.  Stay strong, as many support you and the difficult choices you must make.
 
John Woodworth
 

Alliance For The Disabled
Oregon business license
291968-96

Comments













    Ron.



    • I know you have not checked in several weeks due to your health and poor heatlh conditions. I wanted to advise you about Dave4Homes has a new blog that he has created that he said it will help more people in the future here.



    • I asked him to contact Christine ASAP and infom her of what's been going on in your life in the past  few weeks. Christine is going to try one more attempt at going for GOLD SO TO "SPEAK" Ron needs some good news and Christine is the one who knows how to "bring it"on



    • Ron please try to stay positive for a little longer your true meanining of friends are all out there pushing for you in every aspect they won't give up so please don't.

    • Even when those times get so bad and you have no $, no food, and think you have no one there for you in that moment? They might suprise you one day, stranger things have happened to people in the world. Just always remember thst Janet has your back always, and LD will go to the end of the world for you Ron if he could make it all better. Those peopleo we about



    • GOD PLEASE PRAY FOR RON'S FAMILY ESPECIALLY NOW THAT RON'S WIFE COULD LOOSE HER TEACHER JOR DUE TO MORE NV BUDGET CUTS AND MANDITORY SALARY CUTS FOR ALL TEACHERS.



    • SEND ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS TO KRISTEN FLOWERS @ CBS NEWS RADIO STATION LET HER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO RON'S FAMILY NOW,



    • I don't know if Ron is feeling confidant about doing this new surgey after hearing my wife will loose her job. How much more can they take from this poor family already.



    • If Christine M. or LD or anyone can start to work on a news story on this, is what American Family is about. I am afraid Ron's might be to late?

    • PLEASE HELP......................Has anyone wondered why Ron hasn't be one for weeks? Have members besides Chistine M, please don't lie check in on him to see ifhe is even alive? How scary would that be on all of us. We take for granted Ron and what he does for so many people out there day in and day out. Ron never looks for any thank you's or nothing. When I am constantly geting sick no one else is picking me up except Ron. No one else fights against my doctors, Ron how come because he "just do it" like the Nike commercial states. he doesn't care or complain.



    • So when the Governor is going to cut 1300-1700 TEACHER JOBS WHICH MEANS RONS WIFE WILL ALSO NOW BE OUT OF A JOB. WHO WILL THEN COME FORWARD. RON'S CASE IS MOVING EVEN SLOWER & SLOWER DON'T SEE A $ PRIZE FINISH LINE ONLY LOTS OF PINK SLIPS AND OUR CHILDREN WITH EMPTY MOUTHS TO FEED AND CLOTH THEM.



    •  
      GOD PRAISE CHRISTINE M. AND JOHN WOODWORTH FOR CONSISTENTLY NOT LETTING RON'S VERY IMPORTANT STORY GO. GOD BLESS BOTH OF YOU. THE STRENGHT OF YOUR ADVOCACY SHOULD BE COMMEDABLE IN REGARDS TO RON M.


    ANY ONE KNOW WHAT EVER HAPPEND TO THE OTHER JOHN MORRIS AND HIS GREAT IDEAS WITH RUSH? HE HAD SO MANY VERY GOOD IDEAS. WAS HE SOLOEY WORKING WITH KELLY CURRENTLY TO HELP HER CASE OUT? WE THOUGHT WITH HIS GREAT CONNECTIONS HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET RON UP AND GOING ALOT FASTER. THEN GOING THREE-TO FOUR- WEEKS BEHIND NOW.


    TO ALL MEMBERS THANK YOU ALL. PLEASE HELP NOW HIS FAMILY HAS NO WHERE TO GO AND RON NEEDS THIS SURGERY.


    THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT,


    JANET



    NeuroStimulator, 8 hours ago | Flag

  • Having gone through the heinous workmans comp ordeal myself, I totally sympathize with Ron.  The Insurance companies are out to save money on their end and the doctors they pick literally work for them...even the ones they call independent... who's fooling who?  They are requested by the insurance company and getting paid by them, so sure they will be on the side of the insurance company.


    I had a severely banged up knee and the dr. had all kinds of lame excuses why it was deformed.  The fact I could still walk was good enough for him to say I could still work.  Even though I could not kneel on it without extreme pain and the pain was starting to move up to my hip.


    I have no respect for insurance companies and least of all for those of workmans comp.  They are out to screw the workers and save the businesses.


    Frown

    geekygranny, 4 weeks ago | Flag

  • Great letter!! I will take some pointers from it! thanks

    Beachy2009, 1 month ago | Flag

  • John,


    what a wonderful article you have written on ron's behalf.


    I hope someone will make sure this gets to the knuckle head Harry Greed.


    Lets all keep up the good fight on rons behalf.


    Dave4homes

    dave4homes, 1 month ago | Flag

  • John,


    That is a great letter that you wrote to the Senator.I know only to well what they do to the workers comp injured people.I sure hope this works for him.We all need to stick together.and help one another.Kelly Caswell

    KCaswell, 1 month ago | Flag

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