Lives with: Mom
Lorna Sumner
29 High Street
North Brookfield, MA 01535
508-344-0484
Lives with: Mom’s boyfriend
Steve Sprague
774-292-0377
Guardians
Chad Steiner
978-660-6673
Donna Cocaine
774-922-2389 cell
508-363-4154 work
Relatives
Doug Sumner – brother
774-200-4059 ask for Doug
Terri Steiner – aunt
978-502-6862
Chad Steiner – uncle and Guardian
978-660-6673
Jodi Lane – aunt
774-200-3476
Tally and Ernest Sundstrom – maternal grandparents
508-892-4602
Rita and Ron Granquist – paternal grandparents
508-845-9755
Doctors
Dr. Fan – kidney transplant doctor
UMASS University Campus
508-344-1269
Dr. Gelman – PCP
508-347-9240
Dr. Verma – nephrologist
(508)764-3666
Dr. Herscovici – endocrinologist – diabetes, testosterone, replacing him for parathyroid issues
508-347-7585 August 2024 – Received a call from Dr. Herscovici’s office. He is out of the office until further notice. Nick’s appointment next month was cancelled and he was told to contact his PCP for a referral to a new endocrinologist. Dr. Gelman put in a referral to Dr. Szabo (below) and he refilled Nick’s testosterone for him.
Dr. Szabo – new endocrinologist for parathyroid issue, possibly for diabetes and testosterone as well
Johanna A. Pallotta – endocrinologist – primary hyperparathyroidism
(617) 667-9344
Dr. Stagias – gastroenterologist
508-765-1600
Dr. Francis Huttinger – neurologist
508-334-2527 to schedule in Worcester: 508-334-6641
Services
Shanna Jackman – Department of Developmental Services.
Contact them first if something happens to me, Nick’s mom
413-391-6488
Shannah is the best! Truly a wonderful person. DDS makes sure that Nick gets the services that he needs. I’ve gotten some flexible funding from them. I’ve also contacted them if I have issues with supplies. They may be able to help if you’re having issues with Health Insurance or supplies.
Service Coordinator DDS Southbridge Area Office
1 North St.
Southbridge, Ma 01550
Office Phone: 508-764-0751
Cell: 413-507-1413
Fax: 508-764-0756
Tri-Valley
Personal Care Attendant Services (PCA services)
If something happens to me, call them.
508-949-6640
Donna Cocaine is what is called a surrogate. She meets with someone from Tri-Valley every year along with me and she approves the bi-weekly timesheets.
Here are details about his PCA services and how to find new ones.
Physical Therapist
Jamie Goldstein, PT, DPT, CEAS, CAPP-I
Owner, Physical Therapist
Therapy Hub, LLC
Lightning Mobility Evaluations Northeast Affiliate
(C) 207.370.0515
(F) 218.226.1363
New Referrals: referrals@therapyhub.solutions
Website: www.therapyhub.solutions
National Seating and Mobility
Wheelchair, shower chair, car seat, etc..
413-592-5464
wendy.roche@nsm-seating.com
Attorney for the Trust and for Guardianship
Emily Starr
Starr Vander Linden LLP
7 State Street,
Worcester, MA 01609
Tel. 508.754.8882
Fax: 508.754.3639
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Peggy Firinne
Supplies
Supplies need a Prior Approval (PA). PA’s last for one year. The supplier should tell you when a PA is about to expire. They are supposed to submit a request to Nick’s primary doctor. I usually have to follow up on this. I always request the maximum amount of each supply that MassHealth will approve. It’s inevitable that there will be a problem with the supply, whether it’s because the doctor doesn’t do the paperwork or there is an insurance problem. The insurance problem is always with suppliers billing Medicare, which is Nick’s primary insurance ever since Bob died. Medicare doesn’t pay for these supplies. Sometimes I have to sign something saying I will pay for the supplies if insurance doesn’t. This is so the supplier can bill Medicare, get a rejection, and then submit the bill to MassHealth. This never happens with Allcare Medical, only the supplier for feeding tube supplies. I’ve never had to actually pay for supplies.
Allcare Medical – for diapers, booster pads (they go in the diaper), chux (disposable bed pads), reusable bed pads, gloves. Order once a month. Paid for by MassHealth. Prescription and letter of medical necessity from this Primary Care doctor.
508-865-4857 phone
508-865-6370 fax
Medline – for tube feeding supplies. Mic-key button (feeding tube) every 3 months, 31 feeding bags (used for venting all night) per month, 31 syringes per month. Paid for by MassHealth. Prescription and medical of letter necessity from the Gastroenterologist.
866-356-4997. Sometimes he gets shorted on the syringes. I always order extras from Carewell.
CCA OneCare – this is his insurance. They couldn’t find a supplier for the Y port extension tubes that Nick needs for his Mic-key button, so they order them from Carewell for him and have them shipped to Nick.
Lincare – for tube feeding supplies. Mic-key button (feeding tube) every 3 months, 6 extension tubes for feeding tube every month, 31 feeding bags (used for venting all night) per month, 31 syringes per month. Paid for by MassHealth. Prescription and medical of letter necessity from the Gastroenterologist.
866-436-7685. Sometimes he gets shorted on the syringes. I always order extras from Carewell.
Any supplier for feeding tube supplies may want a letter saying that if insurance doesn’t pay for the supplies, you will be billed and agree to pay. This is why: Medicare is Nick’s primary insurance. It does not pay for tube feeding supplies, but the supplier still needs to submit a bill to Medicare, get a rejection, and then submit the bill to MassHealth (Medicaid). Medicaid will pay. It’s just a technicality.
Carewell – Nick needs a better quality diaper and booster pad for overnight. Insurance does not pay for these. I also order a little bottles of sterile water to fill his Mic-key feeding tube’s balloon with from Carewell.
The night diaper that goes on Nick consists of the Abri-Form M4 diaper, an Abena Boost Booster Pad, two
Abena Abri-Form Diapers with Tabs, M4
Abena Boost Booster Pads
Sterile water – for filling the balloon on Nick’s Mic-key feeding tube. I used to order just small bottles from Carewell, but apparently they don’t carry it anymore. I’ll be checking with the pharmacy. A small bottle should only cost about $1.