Hello Mr. Senator

Well today I decided to stand up as a voter and write my representative the following letter:

Mr. Vaught,

My name is Matthew McIntosh and I am a voter in your district; more importantly then that however I am the father of a 17 month old Deaf child. I am not sure how much you know about advancements with the hearing impaired, but it truly is amazing what can now be done these days through modern medicine. The problem is that insurance companies are more worried about the bottom line then the welfare of the leaders of tomorrow. My point is this as I know you’re very busy. I would like for you to do what is necessary to help insure that all children that meet criteria could have the chance to hear out of both ears. Most insurance companies are only willing to pay for ONE implant in a child, while most children, actually ALL children have TWO ears. Just recently in Oregon they passed:

O.R.S. § 743A.140 Bilateral cochlear implants; coverage

(1) Whenever any policy of health insurance provides for reimbursement of a cochlear implant, the insured under the policy is entitled to coverage of bilateral cochlear implants.

(2) For purposes of ORS 746.230, a reasonable investigation of a claim for bilateral cochlear implants must include a request to the treating surgeon for a written recommendation based on peer-reviewed medical literature and for the medical findings that support the recommendation.

(3) The provisions of this section apply to a health benefit plan as defined in ORS 743.730.

(4) The provisions of this section are exempt from ORS 743A.001.

Added by Laws 2007, c. 504, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2008.

I don’t really know how you present by laws during session, or if I’m asking the right things, but this is something I feel needs to be done and thought I would start with you. I am lucky, my insurance company did approve my Child's second implant and today he is learning to speak and hear like other children his age, but there are many adults and children unlike him who fight insurance everyday. Please consider this when deciding what to present and support this year. I will be asking friends and family all across this Great State of Texas to carry this flag in order to assist all children and adults that can not hear. My great, great, great, great, grandmother Sarah Dodson once created a flag and many recognize it as the First Flag of Texas, where it was carried to the battle of Concepción and the siege of Bexar. It is also said to have flown over the building where the Convention of 1836 met and declared independence from Mexico. This will be my flag and I plan to wave it just as proudly and declare independence for those wishing to hear with both ears.

I would enjoy having the opportunity to sit down and speak with you about this and look forward to your response.

Best Regards,

Matthew McIntosh

Will it be answered we shall see, will anything be done about it after that who knows, but I have decided that somethings need to be fought for and this in my opinion is one of them. Maybe this whole blogging thing will make me speak out more. If you are interested in writing your state representative as well, feel free to pull from the Oregon Statute.

A little background...

Naomi and I (Matthew) met in 1996 at Warner Bros. Studio Stores where I was working after college. A month later we were engaged and married seven months later in January of '97. We have had the joy of being blessed with three children. Our first we only got to enjoy on earth for a very short time as he was Stillborn at 32 weeks. Our second who is footsteps in our title was also born at 32 weeks, but spent a short time in the NICU, before coming home. She has a mild form of Cerebral Palsy that affects only her legs, but is bright as the sun in everything else. Our third child spent the most time in the NICU at seven and a half months. During this time he lost all hearing, we believe to the medication needed to save his life. This is our third miracle baby and without his cochlear implants, lives in a silent world. The pictures were taken in July of this year.

The First Entry

Naomi and I have decided to enter the world of blogging. We have been doing it for a while with Aidan's Care Page, but I thought this way we could share stories, thoughts and ideas on both our children and ourselves, without taking from his care page. I hope we can tell a good story.