By Sandi Voss, FNP-C
Smyrna

    I would like to take this opportunity to share our family’s personal experience with Matt Denn, candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
    Many of you may know our son, Zach Voss. Zach is probably one of the most industrious 13 year olds you would ever meet. He has a lawn mowing business and in the summer, is “chief grower” of Zach’s Farm Fresh Produce.
    What you may not know is that Zach was born with Sturge Weber syndrome and has had a series of medical problems. Zach has been followed for several years at the Sturge Weber Institute at John Hopkins University Hospital.
    On a Friday afternoon in January 2005, after having completed an MRI of the brain, our family was notified that Zach had an abnormal accumulation of blood vessels in his brain. These blood vessels had a high potential for rupturing and causing severe neurological damage. Our doctor at John Hopkins had discussed the situation with Zach’s neurologist in Delaware and the plan was made to have Zach admitted to John Hopkins on Monday for repair of the malformed blood vessels.
    We had just arrived at the neurology department when I received a call on my cell phone from our insurance company. Zach’s admission and subsequent care at John Hopkins was being denied. The insurance company said our Delaware neurologist could provide the care. I explained to the insurance company our neurologist didn’t do the procedure; he was the one who had sent Zach to John Hopkins in the first place. We were told sorry, go back to Delaware.
    Zach’s neurologist at John Hopkins tried to explain to the insurance company the procedure Zach needed was not available to children at any of the Delaware hospitals. Still, Zach was denied services by our insurance company. 
    We left John Hopkins devastated and headed back to Delaware. One the way home, we stopped at a major Delaware hospital to speak to one of the interventional radiologist. He recognized the procedure could not be completed in a Delaware hospital and agreed to write a letter to the insurance company of Zach’s behalf.
    Back at home we didn’t know what to do. It was at that point I sent an email to Matt Denn in the Insurance Commissioner’s Office. The following day, I received a call from a Vice President of the insurance company stating there obviously had been some mistake and of course Zach needed to go to John Hopkins and receive care. Zach was back at John Hopkins receiving this care within days.
    I have been a registered nurse for over 20 years and a nurse practitioner for 13 years, with a background in ICU, Early Intervention and Family Practice. I knew the care Zach needed. His family doctor and neurologists knew the care Zach needed. Yet the insurance company ignored the expertise of Zach’s doctors and denied the care until Matt Denn interceded.
    Matt Denn’s follow through in Zach’s situation and many others demonstrates his commitment to the people of Delaware. When you vote on November 4th, please remember Matt Denn’s pledge as Lieutenant Governor to not only Zach but to every Delawarean.