Skip to content
  • Home Home Home, current page.
  • Moments Moments Moments, current page.

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Language: English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • Bahasa Melayu
    • Català
    • Čeština
    • Dansk
    • Deutsch
    • English UK
    • Español
    • Filipino
    • Français
    • Hrvatski
    • Italiano
    • Magyar
    • Nederlands
    • Norsk
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Română
    • Slovenčina
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Türkçe
    • Ελληνικά
    • Български език
    • Русский
    • Српски
    • Українська мова
    • עִבְרִית
    • العربية
    • فارسی
    • मराठी
    • हिन्दी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • தமிழ்
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
    • ภาษาไทย
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
  • Have an account? Log in
    Have an account?
    · Forgot password?

    New to Twitter?
    Sign up
Sblahov's profile
Sarah Blahovec
Sarah Blahovec
Sarah Blahovec
@Sblahov

Tweets

Sarah Blahovec

@Sblahov

Chronically ill disability organizer, schnauzer mom, knitter. Disability civic engagement expert. Owns more heating pads than you. Opinions my own. she/her/hers

Alexandria, VA
sarahblahovec.com
Joined October 2011

Tweets

  • © 2021 Twitter
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Ads info
Dismiss
Previous
Next

Go to a person's profile

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @

Promote this Tweet

Block

  • Tweet with a location

    You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

    Your lists

    Create a new list


    Under 100 characters, optional

    Privacy

    Copy link to Tweet

    Embed this Tweet

    Embed this Video

    Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Hmm, there was a problem reaching the server.

    By embedding Twitter content in your website or app, you are agreeing to the Twitter Developer Agreement and Developer Policy.

    Preview

    Why you're seeing this ad

    Log in to Twitter

    · Forgot password?
    Don't have an account? Sign up »

    Sign up for Twitter

    Not on Twitter? Sign up, tune into the things you care about, and get updates as they happen.

    Sign up
    Have an account? Log in »

    Two-way (sending and receiving) short codes:

    Country Code For customers of
    United States 40404 (any)
    Canada 21212 (any)
    United Kingdom 86444 Vodafone, Orange, 3, O2
    Brazil 40404 Nextel, TIM
    Haiti 40404 Digicel, Voila
    Ireland 51210 Vodafone, O2
    India 53000 Bharti Airtel, Videocon, Reliance
    Indonesia 89887 AXIS, 3, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL Axiata
    Italy 4880804 Wind
    3424486444 Vodafone
    » See SMS short codes for other countries

    Confirmation

     

    Welcome home!

    This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

    Tweets not working for you?

    Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

    Say a lot with a little

    When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

    Spread the word

    The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

    Join the conversation

    Add your thoughts about any Tweet with a Reply. Find a topic you’re passionate about, and jump right in.

    Learn the latest

    Get instant insight into what people are talking about now.

    Get more of what you love

    Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.

    Find what's happening

    See the latest conversations about any topic instantly.

    Never miss a Moment

    Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.

    Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

    I am stunned. I just got a bill from my May 22 hospital stay at @sibleyonline from an UNSOLICITED SURGERY CONSULT, from Dr. Thomas Zorc & his nurse who don't take my insurance. For these unwanted 10 minutes I now owe $2,300. CC @DonBeyerVA @MarkWarner @timkaine 1/

    8:44 PM - 23 Nov 2019
    • 1,135 Retweets
    • 2,469 Likes
    • March for Medicare for All WP File Access Manager Theme Haunt chaptrap 🌹 Tara סיסל an egg on this hellsite 🥚 Katie Helme LazyAnole Wellington Family
    139 replies 1,135 retweets 2,469 likes
      1. New conversation
      2. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        I was at @sibleyonline for a bowel obstruction back in May. This means that I was on lots of pain meds, in a ton of pain, & hadn't slept. During this time, Dr. Thomas Zorc & Elizabeth Donovan came in, unsolicited, to talk to me about surgery. #CripTax #Healthcare 2/

        5 replies 41 retweets 460 likes
        Show this thread
      3. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        Dr. Zorc sat down & told me that I needed surgery immediately & spent several minutes trying to convince me that "this is what he would do if it was his daughter." He also preyed on the fact that I have trauma around NG tubes, and made it seem like... @sibleyonline 3/

        2 replies 31 retweets 414 likes
        Show this thread
      4. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        if I didn't get surgery right away, only other option was NG tube. Dr Zorc then informed me that he doesn't take my BCBS insurance because "it didn't pay him enough, don't let that bother me, & that if I couldn't pay we could "work out an equitable arrangement." @sibleyonline 4/

        4 replies 34 retweets 408 likes
        Show this thread
      5. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        Meanwhile, his nurse Elizabeth Donovan tried to convince me that Dr. Zorc was the ONLY surgeon I should use, he's the best, basically nobody else should touch me. I was starting to feel like I really did need surgery, but the pressure felt wrong. @sibleyonline 5/

        3 replies 35 retweets 421 likes
        Show this thread
      6. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        I wanted a second opinion, & it was incredibly hard to fight for one. The nurses weren't helping, but someone my GI works with checked on me & helped me, & my mom was there to advocate for me, too. @sibleyonline 6/

        2 replies 32 retweets 465 likes
        Show this thread
      7. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        I got a second opinion from another surgeon, who told me that getting emergency surgery was a bad idea. Getting surgery while inflamed would make it more complex & leave more possibility for complications (the blockage ended up clearing). @sibleyonline

        1 reply 30 retweets 502 likes
        Show this thread
      8. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        I ended up getting surgery in August, following a round of steroids & tapering, & under the best possible circumstances. But what I experienced with Dr. Zorc & Donovan was unethical, unsolicited, & uncomfortable. I complained to my GI & on hospital survey. @sibleyonline

        3 replies 54 retweets 865 likes
        Show this thread
      9. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        Now, those 10 uncomfortable minutes have brought me a $2,300 bill. I was NEVER warned that his consult was going to cost this much because he doesn't accept Blue Cross. There was no informed consent & no choice. @sibleyonline

        12 replies 81 retweets 991 likes
        Show this thread
      10. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        I am going to raise hell about this. How many patients have this surgeon & nurse forced into paying thousands of dollars, only so he can try to get more money out of them on surgeries that aren't even in their best interest? @sibleyonline

        6 replies 70 retweets 1,146 likes
        Show this thread
      11. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        This is the most insidious form of #CripTax I have ever experienced. I'm furious and I WILL be raising hell. You don't want to piss off a chronically ill disability activist who gets joy out of fighting the patriarchy & medical industrial complex @sibleyonline

        2 replies 63 retweets 1,305 likes
        Show this thread
      12. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        Also as a follow up on this: I'm less worried for myself (because I have a good support network & know how to advocate) than I am for the countless other patients I'm guessing Dr. Zorc has pulled this on. Patients need protected from this manipulation @sibleyonline

        4 replies 46 retweets 851 likes
        Show this thread
      13. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        From my mom: she was in the room while this consult happened, and said the entire time she felt that he was "like a slimy salesman." Luckily our BS monitors were both working & mom went on a mission to find out how to get a second opinion (couldn't get w/o her).

        3 replies 25 retweets 673 likes
        Show this thread
      14. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        Also to add: this didn't happen in the emergency room, this was when I was admitted. My mom says that the nurse came to us to tell us that he wanted to talk to us. We did NOT ask for him & in fact hadn't really discussed surgery before this.

        2 replies 32 retweets 631 likes
        Show this thread
      15. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 23 Nov 2019

        If @sibleyonline is going to have a surgeon who doesn't believe in accepting common insurance because of his own greed, they shouldn't be allowed to call him in on emergency cases or without INFORMED CONSENT of the bill that comes with it.

        6 replies 65 retweets 1,107 likes
        Show this thread
      16. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 24 Nov 2019

        I should add that this is the EOB for out of network, not the actual bill yet, but as it is out of network and I haven't met my out of network deductible (because I don't go out of network) this will be the cost.

        10 replies 14 retweets 393 likes
        Show this thread
      17. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 24 Nov 2019

        Update: I'm glad this thread is getting attention. I talked to my GI and she forwarded this on to the surgeon who did my resection in August. He's the head of @sibleyonline surgery. I have a to-do list about a page long with what I'm planning on doing to fight this.

        5 replies 12 retweets 364 likes
        Show this thread
      18. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 24 Nov 2019

        Update: for everyone saying we need legislation passed on this, @SenBillCassidy has proposed S. 1531. There's also house legislation. Please, please, please call your Senators and Representatives to ask them to pass it.https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/stop-surprise-medical-bills-act-reaches-21-senate-cosponsors …

        5 replies 73 retweets 356 likes
        Show this thread
      19. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 24 Nov 2019

        Also: yes. This is legal. It's unethical as hell, but Zorc and Donovan didn't break the law. We need to fix the law because my bill is only $2,300, but people are getting Bill's for $15,000, 20, 100k. End surprise medical billing now.

        11 replies 30 retweets 394 likes
        Show this thread
      20. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 24 Nov 2019

        I've had several people defend the surgeon and his right to get more than I take home in a month for 10 minutes of his time, & others defend his pressuring me into surgery. This whole thing is making my Crohn's flare & I'm not dealing with devil's advocates.

        6 replies 6 retweets 230 likes
        Show this thread
      21. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 24 Nov 2019

        The nurse I mention is actually a PA, and she wasn't a floor nurse, she works in Zorc's practice (clarifying because some were saying she was scouting for him but that isn't accurate)

        2 replies 4 retweets 89 likes
        Show this thread
      22. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        UPDATE: I got a call from the president of Sibley this morning, and will hopefully be talking to him this afternoon.

        3 replies 1 retweet 76 likes
        Show this thread
      23. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        UPDATE: I just talked to @sibleyonline's president. Sibley (and many hospitals) have an internal "expectation and policy" that doctors in the on-call rotation will NOT balance bill patients when they are out of network. This policy is not stated to patients.

        3 replies 7 retweets 80 likes
        Show this thread
      24. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        What I got, as I said before, was not a bill, it was an EOB. If Zorc balance billed me, he would be out of compliance with policy & taken off the on-call rotation...if @sibleyonline found out about it.

        1 reply 2 retweets 60 likes
        Show this thread
      25. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        But there's absolutely no communication of this policy to the patients, from what I can tell. And since these are private practices, if they balance bill, I don't think there would be transparency between the private practice and @sibleyonline. That's a problem.

        2 replies 3 retweets 59 likes
        Show this thread
      26. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        How could patients know if they get balance billed that this is against @sibleyonline policy? I explained to Dr. Hasan Zia, interim president of Sibley, that this lack of transparency is a problem. He agrees, & wants to take action to fix it.

        1 reply 2 retweets 71 likes
        Show this thread
      27. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        I will be staying in touch with Dr. Zia and @sibleyonline because there needs to be information so that patients know about this policy. We need to know so that we don't panic when we receive an EOB & we can report it to Sibley if we receive a balance bill.

        2 replies 2 retweets 57 likes
        Show this thread
      28. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        Unfortunately, policy alone probably won't fix this though. Many patients still may not know where to find that patient education if they receive a bill. The only way to fix it is to pass legislation like H.R. 861 & SB 1531 to outlaw surprise medical billing.

        2 replies 5 retweets 62 likes
        Show this thread
      29. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        I'm a disability advocate who does this for a living, and it took talking to the president of @sibleyonline to resolve this issue. Most people don't have that level of privilege. I will keep fighting so that patients are informed, Sibley is transparent, & we get this legislation.

        2 replies 8 retweets 99 likes
        Show this thread
      30. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        Also, another reminder that way we can truly end this practice is to outlaw surprise medical billing. Call your Congresspeople and ask them to pass HR 861 and SB 1531, bipartisan legislation to end surprise medical billing. Call the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

        4 replies 9 retweets 68 likes
        Show this thread
      31. Sarah Blahovec‏ @Sblahov 25 Nov 2019

        Sarah Blahovec Retweeted Sarah Blahovec

        Lengthy thread for those trying to rationalize the medical advice I received or the surgery sales pitch:https://twitter.com/Sblahov/status/1199213521394905088?s=19 …

        Sarah Blahovec added,

        Sarah Blahovec @Sblahov
        I'm amazed how some of med Twitter rationalizewhat I experienced. It's condescending and based on the assumption that med professionals on Twitter I've never met know more about my care/that experience than I do. Let's set things straight.
        Show this thread
        3 replies 4 retweets 31 likes
        Show this thread
      32. Show replies

    Loading seems to be taking a while.

    Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

      Promoted Tweet

      false

      • © 2021 Twitter
      • About
      • Help Center
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Cookies
      • Ads info