Medical Flight

Nathaniel Gary a 23 year old pipeline worker was involved in a tragic vehicle accident heading to the airport to fly home to see his family in Louisiana on July 20, 2023. Nathaniel was rushed to the hospital in Paoli, Pennsylvania and put on life support for the major injuries caused from the vehicle accident. The next morning on July 21, Nathaniel was brought to surgery were 2 rods and 14 screws were put in his lower back that will remain for the rest of his life.

Since the scary week of July 20th, Nathaniel has done remarkably well through prayers and the grace of God. Nathaniel has shown true grit during his recovery by continuing to win at each milestone from getting off the ventilator to now sitting up in a chair. Nathaniel is winning each and every day and is ready to start rehabbing the lower half of his body.

Nathaniel is still in the hospital in Paoli, Pennsylvania awaiting much needed rehabilitation services. He has been approved by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to receive rehabilitation services at TIRR Memorial Rehab in Houston. However, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has denied his physician’s request to be flown by helicopter from Pennsylvania to TIRR Herman Memorial Rehab in Houston. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana’s explanation was that transport was not an emergency so therefore not medically necessary. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana stated that there are rehabilitation facilities in-network near him in Pennsylvania. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana also stated that once rehabilitation services has improved his stability they would reassess his case. Nathaniel’s physicians in Pennsylvania have pleaded his case to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana over the phone and the transportation was still denied. Nathaniel is in the process of a 72 hour appeal right now with Blue Cross Blue Shield and awaiting the results of the appeal. The appeal was faxed on Friday, September 18th in the afternoon. We learned from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana that they did not receive the appeal until Monday, August 21st, that is when the 72 hours begins. So Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana is wasting valuable rehabilitation time that Nathaniel should be receiving at this time. Nathaniel and family has started looking into other flight options for transportation to Houston. The social worker at the hospital in Paoli and Nathaniel’s father, John Gary were able to secure a flight and Nathaniel’s Trauma team approved of that flight!

We would like help from anyone that could help offset the cost of the flight to help the family get Nathaniel to TIRR Herman Memorial Rehab. Not only is TIRR Herman Memorial Rehab closer to Nathaniel’s support system, but it is also ranked #2 in the nation for the type of rehabilitation he needs at this time. Whereas, the rehabilitation facilities in Pennsylvania are not ranked at this time. TIRR Herman Memorial Rehab is also the facility that will continue his care for the rest of his life.