Sunday, October 26, 2014

My first stab at Match.com....Dear Lord, I hope it gets easier!

WARNING: This blog could be detrimental to your opinion of me, but this event that happened is too funny not to share! So read it at your own risk, or if you want a good laugh…..

I did something last week I swore I would never do (although I did sign up briefly 1 year ago, and quickly stopped my subscription).  I signed up on Match.com, at the advice of a patient of mine who met, married and moved away with the love of her life after meeting him on Match.  She told me how Internet dating is for people like me who are busy and don’t have time to get out to meet and mingle with other single men.  She pumped me up on all the reasons I should give it one more shot and this time open my horizons to a “nationwide” search versus a “regional” search.  
After taking the time to write a glowing, yet honest bio of myself and what I am looking for in a relationship; I promptly filled out all of the “qualities” I was looking for in a Match.  I love bald headed men; check, I DO NOT want small children in the mix: check, I would prefer he be a widower or at least 5 years divorced; check, preferably makes more money than me; check, Christian, check, no smoking; check, sense of humor, check……added my recent big red 80’s hair photos to the mix and I hit submit…….
I promptly get a notice that says not ONE match is out there for me with those qualities!!  “No matches are found, maybe you should broaden your qualities”…..I read that to say LOWER YOUR STANDARDS…..so I added they could have hair (I didn’t change that I preferred the ex-wife be deceased (don’t’ judge me….have you ever dealt with an angry/jealous ex of a boyfriend? or they make less money than me)…salt and pepper, gray etc…the basic hair colors…BINGO….thousands of matches nationwide with hair!   Now, I am set and apparently ready to go LIVE with my search for love, friendship, marriage, etc….
Within an hour, the “winks, likes and emails” start coming in.   I am still a doubter on this and amused at the responses I am getting…some are not at all what I put on my profile…….
Fast forward to yesterday….I decided to meet this guy for coffee and so I did.  He shows up looks fine, is half bald (but not in a bad way), tall and slim.  Is an excellent conversationalist (if you know me, that’s important), raised Baptist (as was I), good job, a 12 year old son he shares custody of with his ex.  Who is alive and they get along well he says……she is a hairdresser in Cool Springs off of Mallory Lane……that immediately caught my attention…so after a game of 20 questions…..and we narrowed down the salon’s name….then I asked HER NAME….
HOLY CRAP…his ex-wife is MY hairdresser and Ella’s as well!!  I nearly snorted out my Chai Latte and ran out of the building!  Of the thousands of men (I should of stood my ground and stayed with bald men) I matched up with the qualities I had listed….first out of the gate I go out with is MY HAIRDRESSERS EX HUSBAND!!!  No stinking way is this ever going to work out!  His exact words were “will that be a problem”?
YOU DARN RIGHT that’s a problem…if I have to choose between a Match date and my hairdresser (the one who controls my color, cut and style of my hair)….I choose my hairdresser…case closed! 

We had a great time, he asked me to go canoeing soon and we left it at that!  I immediately called my hairdresser and told her what had happened!  We laughed and she encouraged me to move forward….not sure about that! 
I am sure my patient is correct, I won’t meet a date in my work; where I treat mainly women with hormone, thyroid and adrenal problems. I love my church, but it’s full of younger people. There are no men where I work out at Releve’ One and I am too tired to get back out when I get home and fix dinner, do laundry, check on the kids etc everyday……good thing I am not looking to get married anytime soon (or maybe never).  Because this whole internet dating thing is difficult!  I think to be successful at it, one has to commit to spending time (time I am not sure I want to give up) on the hunt.
It’s entertaining and I do love a good laugh……and certainly got one yesterday afternoon at a table for 2 in a coffee shop in Nolensville.  I have no idea if we will ever see each other again (he did text afterwards) or take off canoeing one day…..but I do know it was the hair that he noticed first on my profile (and commented on as well), and it may be the hair that detours the prospect of a relationship as well!  I love a risk (have taken a few lately)…….but not sure I am up to this!  It took me 8 years of driving back and forth to Paducah for Lisa Holt to do my hair every month, before I was brave enough to find a stylist here….
I may lower my standards and add men with hair to my qualities I am looking for…but, the hairdresser is not negotiable!! I can’t wait to hear what she has to say about all of this next month when I get settled in to spend 3 hours in the chair as she does her magic…magic I am not willing to give up currently for some man.
I happened to have had a good hair day yesterday, and as he was leaving…he shouted out “great hair Dani, who does it”?  HA!  Sense of humor; check!




Wednesday, October 8, 2014

URGENT INFO FOR ALL BLUE CROSS PATIENTS. PLEASE READ AND SHARE.

October 8, 2014

Dear IFM family,

The past 2 months have been a whirlwind of blessings and new challenges for me and my family.  Since leaving my last job on August 11 I began an exhaustive 600 page credentialing process with Blue Cross that was to take only 2 months.  Tammy has worked like a champion in that process putting countless hours and late nights (as we all have) to provide me the “privilege” of taking BCBS.  Since I was not credentialed at my last job, this was a necessity.  Three weeks from the time BCBS stated everything was progressing smoothly with credentialing and my supervising MD, I set reasonable fees for non-BCBS patients and opened my doors with their assurance of the process. And the added assurance that any patient I saw with BCBS, I would be able to submit claims to BCBS for payment after credentialing was completed.

              Almost 1 month into practice (7 weeks after beginning the credentialing process) while Tammy was continuing follow-up with their progress, they informed her that (even though this is MY practice) the MD who supervises and collaborates in difficult cases must also be in network with BCBS.  Despite continual phone calls and status updates, this information was not delivered to us until 2 days before a deadline (Monday night) leaving us inadequate time to find a replacement MD.  To top it off, this change went into effect after we began credentialing so there was no way of knowing ahead of time. 

              Despite thinking through every possible scenario and willing MD’s to supervise me, we are unable to secure an MD and get the paperwork processed through the BCBS system in time.  It is devastating to me and my staff to have put so much effort, time, and financial resources into this hoop jumping endeavor all to be treated this unethically and put in a very uncomfortable position both financially and emotionally.  My decision to start my own practice would not have changed one bit, but I certainly would have put my efforts into more productive patient related matters (not the hoop jumping we have all done the past few months). 

              So what does this mean for my beloved patients?  If you do not have BCBS this has no bearing whatsoever.  If you do have BCBS do not worry.  You will not receive a bill from us for our services rendered for past appointments. If you have an appointment tomorrow (Friday October 9, 2014), I will still honor it for whatever your copay is.  It is unethical to tell you it will be covered and come back on you if it is not.  However, from here out I have to proceed without accepting BCBS and utilizing the fee schedule as I do for my non-BCBS patients already.  I am heartbroken to deliver this news to those with BCBS who put their faith in me from the beginning.  Your lab coverage will not change and you may file your own insurance if you wish as this is for MY services only.  Tammy will help you with that process. 

              God has blessed me beyond words with an amazing staff, incredible patients, and a peace of mind that has stayed with me through this entire transition.  It is time to focus on patients and not jumping through unrealistic and unethical insurance hoops.  I completely understand if finances prohibit you from being able to stick with our original treatment plan/frequency.  We will do whatever we can to find a way to work with you as we do our current non-BCBS patients.  If that means only seeing you 2x a year or less, we will work hard to find a middle ground for all of us.

              For those of you seeing Dr. Myers, he will continue to take BCBS since he was credentialed before the transition.  Please share this information with anyone you know who has an appointment and BCBS.  It makes me sick to think this will causes a disruption in the care of someone who needs it, but please know that we have done everything possible based on what BCBS told our certified biller with 13+ years of experience.  Please contact us if you have any questions.  As much chaos as it has been, I am excited and energized to move forward and continue walking with you on your healthcare journey.  Thank you for your patience and understanding with this sensitive matter. 

Fees are as listed:
New Patient: 275.00 for 90 minutes
Follow Up: 150.00 for 30 minutes
Phone Consults: 150.00 30 minutes

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL TAMMY AT (615) 944-3529 OR INTEGRATIVEFAMILYMEDICINE@YAHOO.COM  FOR ALL BILLING AND RESCHEDULING QUESTIONS.  WE WILL DEDICATING THIS LINE TO BCBS PATIENT QUESTIONS.  PLEASE DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR STAFF TO ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS, THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.


Blessings,



Dani Williamson  

Integrative Family Medicine