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I am happy to see the issue of traumatic brain injury (TBI) getting more coverage ("Hidden Disability of TBI Goes Public," Aug. 14, The ASHA Leader).
I am an SLP working in an outpatient clinic in Michigan, serving individuals with mild/mild-moderate TBI and treating cognitive deficits. Most of our patients have been involved in motor vehicle accidents. Because auto-insurance companies do not want to pay for services, part of our job has now become doing depositions, some of which have lasted 4 ½ hours. In addition to depositions, an adjuster from one of the auto insurance companies and an attorney representing this auto insurance company, have come into our facility to review all treatment and evaluation materials and have requested copies of many of them. As The Leader states, they call it "investigational," but in the process of "investigating," some auto insurance companies have successfully withheld payment on all claims for almost one year. Nearly all of our patients are now involved in very costly legal battles.
It is very disheartening to be forced into this negative interaction. It feels like insurance companies are regulating our profession and ultimately the care of these patients. This begs the question, how are they qualified to make decisions regarding what is most appropriate for a patient? Why are they allowed to do this? Who—if anyone—is regulating the auto insurance companies?
Kelli A.C. Tomic
Clawson, MI
Kcorrigan3@yahoo.com
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