[Stargate] [Ansteorra] Request for Help - Blood Donations Needed

[Hillary Greenslade]

> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:44:26 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Lauren Norman <lmnorman at uh.edu>
> To: stargate at lists.ansteorra.org
> Subject: [Stargate] OT--for those wishing to help Hrafn and Elizabeta
> As most if not all of us are aware by now, Count Hrafn's father was in a very serious plane crash this weekend, and is in very critical condition in John > > Paul Smith in Fort Worth.? Blood donations can only be made at Carter Blood Care Centers, the closest of which is in Lufkin.? However, the Gulf Coast > Regional Blood Center has a blood use reimbursement program that can provide money for medical bills.? For every donation made in a person's name, > they are eligible for a $20 reimbursement, up to $1,000.? 
> 
> If you're inclined to help out and would like to donate blood, please make sure to donate in the name "Jerry Baker".
> 
> Thanks y'all!
> 
> Isolde
> Lauren Norman
> 409.739.5645

I received a post from the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (see below #1).  These donations might help with Elizabeta's father-in-laws financial needs, but not the actual blood donation needs.  However, according to the post from the Carter Blood Group (see post #2 from Emma below), I don't believe Carter Blood Care will accept the financial exchange BUR credits anymore, so donating to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will not help this situation. 

The best option is to donate funds directly to the patient to help pay for the blood used and/or for the expenses in general (and that may still be something we can do later via a fund drive).  OR Better yet, to drive to the closest Carter Blood Care center near Houston, which is probably either Lufkin or Waco: 
http://www.carterbloodcare.org/donorcenter.aspx

Both locations (Waco/Lufkin) are open till 2pm on Saturdays.  I'd be willing to do the drive tomorrow (Saturday) if others wish to join me.  I give quarterly at my office blood drives.  Lufkin is probably the easiest to get to.

Please respond ASAP if a group wishes to go.  
Hillary


(#1:  Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center)
From: Customer Service <cflmailbox at giveblood.org>
To: "greenem7 at yahoo.com" <greenem7 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Fri, June 4, 2010 9:58:06 AM
Subject: RE: donations toward other centers
Thank you for your e-mail. Blood Usage Reimbursement Vouchers offer donors an opportunity to help offset/recover blood service fees where insurance does not cover them. The voucher can be assigned by the donor to anyone who needs it prior to its expiration date. The voucher value ($20 per donation) will be paid directly to the patient who received blood services at a healthcare facility. Expenses that are reimbursable include only blood service fees on the patient's hospital bill. Patients without insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or access to another third party payer are eligible to receive Blood Usage Reimbursement Vouchers for each donation credited to you.  A patient co-pay or deductible is also not covered under this benefit.
For information about the BUR program, please see the following link:  http://www.giveblood.org/donating/bur.htm . You may also call our BUR hotline at (713) 791-6339 during regular business hours - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - to speak to a representative.
The most important benefit of donating blood, of course, is that your donation has made life-saving blood products available to as many as three patients in our community. It is blood on shelves at the time of need that saves lives, and we sincerely thank you for your life-saving donation. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Crista Mosqueda
Customer Service Associate
Phone: 713-791-7743
Toll Free: 1-888-482-5663
Fax:    713-791-6366
www.giveblood.org

(#2: Post from Emma on Ansteorran list, per Carter Blood Group on BUR exchanges)
From: Jennifer Smith <jds at randomgang.com>
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
I did hear back from Carter Blood Group.  They said:
"...Unfortunately there are no other Blood Banks who can forward the credits to us any longer. We are members of the National Blood Exchange, which is a Clearinghouse for us and was responsible for sending and receiving the Credits. On February 12th they discontinued the Blood Replacement Credit Program, because of low participation. We now work directly with the patient to assure that they get the benefit of the Credits. Have you checked our Website that Carter BloodCare in not in that area? We have Centers as far away as Marshall, Longview, Lufkin, Mt. Pleasant, Waco, Weatherford, etc.
If money is donated, I would suggest that you give it to the Patient in lieu of Blood. We pick up the Uninsured Portion of the Blood Products after the Insurance Company has dealt with the Hospital, and paid their portion. What is left out-of-pocket for the patient to pay is what we reimburse from the credits that are available...."
-Emma