Deaf Oppression– Medicine in Philadelphia

In my previous post, I put a link to the only info I could find online at Independence Blue Cross (IBX) about interpreter services. It’s for the adult basic manual, which doesn’t include Keystone 65 members; adultBasic is for people on both Medicare and Medicaid.

I called today (a 28 minute relay call), and found out that the doctor’s office does have to make the arrangements for the interpreter, and does that by contacting the “Provider Services” department of IBX. Seems the doctor doesn’t have to pay the interpreter and then get reimbursed– once they contact provider services, seems IBX takes over the process.

But, Marvin, the guy I talked with, said he only knows about adultBasic services. Keystone 65 is separate and he gave me a different phone number to call. I asked him if IBX had some kind of interpreter coordinator or someone who would know more about this issue, and he told me no.

So far, no help for Betty. Also waiting on responses from some doctors to my fax last week. Guess I’ll need to send them a second fax.