Anyone with Kaiser Permanente insurance in Colorado?

HI, Brooke-

It sounds like the Kaiser system is a lot like the VA system my brother was in. It doesn't matter what state you are in, all they care about is that the proper procedures and paperwork are completed in order to get a referral. Eileen L wrote a great post titled "Victory over Kaiser" http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/victory-over-kaiser-approval-participation-phase-i  Democat also wrote about his battles with Kaiser "Does anyone have experience with Kaiser Permanente?" http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/does-anyone-have-experience-kaiser-permanente

From reading these posts, it appears to me that the trick is to get your Kaiser oncologist to refer you to UCH. An oncologist who is confident of his/her abilities but also aware of the complexity of melanoma and all the new treatments may just refer you. If that doesn't work, as Eileen said, if you insist on being referred to UCH for a clinical trial, at least you will be in the UCH "system".  I know that both of these posters were talking about Kaiser in California, but I suspect that these strategies will work for Kaiser in any state.

UCH is conducting a clinical trial for Stage III melanoma patients. See: http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/does-anyone-have-experience-kaiser-permanente The trial is described in more detail here: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=692568&version=HealthProfessional .

I hope that somebody else here can give you better information about getting a referral from Kaiser and/or can suggest a good melanoma specialty clinic in Colorado. But if all else fails, you might start to push to be referred to the clinical trial. 

Don't give up! Keep pushing! Nobody is going to advocate for your (or your husband's) health care more vigorously than you do.

HI, Brooke-

It sounds like the Kaiser system is a lot like the VA system my brother was in. It doesn't matter what state you are in, all they care about is that the proper procedures and paperwork are completed in order to get a referral. Eileen L wrote a great post titled "Victory over Kaiser" http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/victory-over-kaiser-approval-participation-phase-i  Democat also wrote about his battles with Kaiser "Does anyone have experience with Kaiser Permanente?" http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/does-anyone-have-experience-kaiser-permanente

From reading these posts, it appears to me that the trick is to get your Kaiser oncologist to refer you to UCH. An oncologist who is confident of his/her abilities but also aware of the complexity of melanoma and all the new treatments may just refer you. If that doesn't work, as Eileen said, if you insist on being referred to UCH for a clinical trial, at least you will be in the UCH "system".  I know that both of these posters were talking about Kaiser in California, but I suspect that these strategies will work for Kaiser in any state.

UCH is conducting a clinical trial for Stage III melanoma patients. See: http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/does-anyone-have-experience-kaiser-permanente The trial is described in more detail here: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=692568&version=HealthProfessional .

I hope that somebody else here can give you better information about getting a referral from Kaiser and/or can suggest a good melanoma specialty clinic in Colorado. But if all else fails, you might start to push to be referred to the clinical trial. 

Don't give up! Keep pushing! Nobody is going to advocate for your (or your husband's) health care more vigorously than you do.

HI, Brooke-

It sounds like the Kaiser system is a lot like the VA system my brother was in. It doesn't matter what state you are in, all they care about is that the proper procedures and paperwork are completed in order to get a referral. Eileen L wrote a great post titled "Victory over Kaiser" http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/victory-over-kaiser-approval-participation-phase-i  Democat also wrote about his battles with Kaiser "Does anyone have experience with Kaiser Permanente?" http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/does-anyone-have-experience-kaiser-permanente

From reading these posts, it appears to me that the trick is to get your Kaiser oncologist to refer you to UCH. An oncologist who is confident of his/her abilities but also aware of the complexity of melanoma and all the new treatments may just refer you. If that doesn't work, as Eileen said, if you insist on being referred to UCH for a clinical trial, at least you will be in the UCH "system".  I know that both of these posters were talking about Kaiser in California, but I suspect that these strategies will work for Kaiser in any state.

UCH is conducting a clinical trial for Stage III melanoma patients. See: http://www.melanoma.org/community/mpip-melanoma-patients-information-page/does-anyone-have-experience-kaiser-permanente The trial is described in more detail here: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=692568&version=HealthProfessional .

I hope that somebody else here can give you better information about getting a referral from Kaiser and/or can suggest a good melanoma specialty clinic in Colorado. But if all else fails, you might start to push to be referred to the clinical trial. 

Don't give up! Keep pushing! Nobody is going to advocate for your (or your husband's) health care more vigorously than you do.

Based on your husband's path report, I don't think that you need to rush into anything. He is currently NED and may well remain that way for the rest of his life. In his situation, "wait and see" is a perfectly valid option and many people choose to do just that. So you have time to slow down and check things out carefully.

I think what you really want right now is a consultation with a melanoma specialist. Beth said that Kaiser approved her getting a second opinion. I  have heard other Kaiser patients who had no trouble getting approval for out-of-network second opinions. So can you get authorization to see Dr. Karl Lewis at UC? He's the study director for the ipi/interferon clinical trial there. He would be an excellent person to consult with, and while you are there he may know about some other clinicals they will be offering in the near future that may  be appropriate for your husband. 

I suggest that you meet with your new oncologist, meet with Dr. Lewis, and perhaps meet with Dr. Alexander Menter, the Kaiser Pemanente Colorado doctor in charge of their clinical trial. See what they have to say and what they recommend. See how comfortable you are with each of them and with their team members. You have time to mull this over. While you are at it, might also mull over changing your insurance next year to one that is accepted by UC. You have a lot of choices. 

Based on your husband's path report, I don't think that you need to rush into anything. He is currently NED and may well remain that way for the rest of his life. In his situation, "wait and see" is a perfectly valid option and many people choose to do just that. So you have time to slow down and check things out carefully.

I think what you really want right now is a consultation with a melanoma specialist. Beth said that Kaiser approved her getting a second opinion. I  have heard other Kaiser patients who had no trouble getting approval for out-of-network second opinions. So can you get authorization to see Dr. Karl Lewis at UC? He's the study director for the ipi/interferon clinical trial there. He would be an excellent person to consult with, and while you are there he may know about some other clinicals they will be offering in the near future that may  be appropriate for your husband. 

I suggest that you meet with your new oncologist, meet with Dr. Lewis, and perhaps meet with Dr. Alexander Menter, the Kaiser Pemanente Colorado doctor in charge of their clinical trial. See what they have to say and what they recommend. See how comfortable you are with each of them and with their team members. You have time to mull this over. While you are at it, might also mull over changing your insurance next year to one that is accepted by UC. You have a lot of choices. 

Based on your husband's path report, I don't think that you need to rush into anything. He is currently NED and may well remain that way for the rest of his life. In his situation, "wait and see" is a perfectly valid option and many people choose to do just that. So you have time to slow down and check things out carefully.

I think what you really want right now is a consultation with a melanoma specialist. Beth said that Kaiser approved her getting a second opinion. I  have heard other Kaiser patients who had no trouble getting approval for out-of-network second opinions. So can you get authorization to see Dr. Karl Lewis at UC? He's the study director for the ipi/interferon clinical trial there. He would be an excellent person to consult with, and while you are there he may know about some other clinicals they will be offering in the near future that may  be appropriate for your husband. 

I suggest that you meet with your new oncologist, meet with Dr. Lewis, and perhaps meet with Dr. Alexander Menter, the Kaiser Pemanente Colorado doctor in charge of their clinical trial. See what they have to say and what they recommend. See how comfortable you are with each of them and with their team members. You have time to mull this over. While you are at it, might also mull over changing your insurance next year to one that is accepted by UC. You have a lot of choices.