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Posted by: Nan on May 24, 2008 at 03:15=20 PM
Dale was a = good man,=20 and deserved better. Duane..you and your family are in = my=20 prayers

Posted by: J on May 21, 2008 at = 11:02=20 AM
@Life is Good = in=20 Lincoln: Your remark sparked an interesting discussion = in my=20 household last night. Good to know how everyone thinks = around=20 here before the unthinkable happens. I am so sorry = about Dale=20 Fausset's passing and my condolences to his family. = Regardless=20 of diagnosis, prognosis or insurance, a good man has = passed=20 away and his family is in mourning. Please keep that = in mind,=20 everyone.

Posted by: Proud American on May = 21, 2008 at=20 08:34 AM
I am = praying for=20 Dale's family and for all the fire fighters who are = covered by=20 this terrible health plan. I think we need to do a = better job=20 of taking care of the people who have put their lives = in=20 danger to protect us. That would be the fire fighter, = police=20 and on a national level the military. Thank you all = for=20 putting yourself in harms way for me and my = family.

Posted by: Maria on May 20, 2008 = at 06:18=20 PM
FF remember a = COVENTRY=20 representative stood before city council and said = nothing=20 would change as far as medical coverage, what BS!! = Coventry=20 was the low bidder but the city does have the right to = reject=20 the bid (lowest OR BEST)and didn't. Those of us city = workers=20 who pay for our insurance, and the fire and police = should be=20 paying for theirs too, are paying for a product that = was=20 presented falsely as a PPO but is managed by Coventry = as HMO.=20 Coventry dictates to city what Coventry will pay, city = reps=20 fight and win, costing time and money. Coventry is a = problem=20 and will end up costing the city dearly unless the = council=20 wises up during this next bidding process. This = problem is not=20 limited to the city product but to ALL Coventry = products.=20 Doctor's office hate dealing with them because = Coventry tries=20 to deny COVERED procedures and will argue with doctors = denying/delaying treatment. And look what happened to = Dale=20 because of it. May he rest in peace. Coventry, your = time is=20 coming.

Posted by: Life is Good on May 20, = 2008 at=20 02:42 PM
To = Medical=20 Person: if you shall ever need a lung transplant, = remember=20 YOUR comments. Will you just give up if you need a=20 tranplant?

Posted by: Medical Person on May = 20, 2008 at=20 01:44 PM
To K - = the=20 medical ethics of spending $300,000 plus for a lung=20 transplant, followed up by a bone marrow transplant, = as well=20 as probably close to $400K for a five organ transplant = for the=20 other lady, which are high risk and low chance of = survival,=20 are beyond this comment site - personally, I believe = that it=20 is ethically wrong for this to occur - the money = should be=20 spent providing basic medical care to hundreds, if not = thousands, of other patients - just remember your = comments=20 next time your health insurance premiums go up 15% in = a year,=20 and you or your employer decide to drop your coverage = as you=20 cannot afford it.

Posted by: Lori on May 20, 2008 at = 12:20=20 PM
In the last 8 = years I=20 have had United Healthcare, Coventry and BCBS. = Coventry was by=20 far the worst of the 3 and I was only on that because = the=20 employer with United wanted to reduce costs and went = with=20 Coventry (I found out after I left there they even = dumped=20 Coventry and went with a high-deductible "cafeteria = plan"=20 which NO one with chronic issues could afford. That = company is=20 now defunct and bankrupt). Other than a slightly = higher co-pay=20 for certain medications, office visits and ER visits, = BCBS is=20 almost identical to United Healthcare in coverage. AND = it=20 hasn't been discontinued by some area hospitals, like = United.=20 For some reason, though, they make me pay an = additional $13=20 for my regular knee injections, whereas United paid = 100% of=20 the cost of the shot. Weird.

Posted by: K on May 20, 2008 at = 10:33=20 AM
Regardless of = what=20 "Medical Person" and "Not from Coventry", Dale Fausset = still=20 deserved a chance that his life be saved. The = doctors/surgeons=20 in Colorado obviously thought that the Bone Marrow = Transplant=20 could possibly help Dale. If they didn't think it = would help,=20 why would the Doctors have put Dale and his brother = through=20 that?? All in all, Dale deserved a chance to be saved. = Since=20 he did save lives for a living. And yes I do think = that=20 Coventry is to blame! To Medical Person and not = coventry: quit=20 defending Coventry.......... were you there when the = surgeons=20 thought that the Bone Marrow transplant could possibly = save=20 Dale's life??

Posted by: FF on May 20, 2008 at = 09:37=20 AM
To all the = people who=20 do not understand. The city is SELF-INSURED- which = means=20 coventry pays out what they tell them too. If the city = says=20 "pay it" coventry pays it. Paying a premium is not the = issue,=20 all Ins. is on a bidding system- which means the = contract goes=20 to the losest bidder in most cases. In this case BC/BS = dropped=20 the ball and missed the deadline. We can blame = coventry,=20 however the buck stops directly in the pocket of Mayor = Mike=20 Fahey and his band of penny pinching croanys trying to = save=20 money everywhere they can to build a ballpark and = streetcars.=20 Hey mayor, leave the seat next to you open on your = first=20 trolly ride, your conscious may find you someday and = need a=20 place to sit.

Posted by: LJ on May 20, 2008 at = 08:54=20 AM
Thank you = "Not from=20 Coventry" and "Medical Person" for some rational, non=20 emotional comments.

Posted by: Medical Person on May = 20, 2008 at=20 07:12 AM
UNMC is = known for=20 being an "agressive" transplant program - they will = attempt=20 high risk cases that many other transplant centers = will turn=20 away. Just this winter we had the case of the 12 year = old girl=20 who had lost her bowel in the pool accident (she = died), the=20 lady who needed the five organ transplant who had her = car=20 stolen (she died) and this firefighter, who was likely = rejecting his transplanted lungs, and was not a good = candidate=20 for a bone marrow transplant (and died). I also know = of other=20 cases where the patient underwent multiple transplants = of the=20 same organ but repeatedly rejected it. I am not saying = the=20 UNMC program is not a good program, just they are more = likely=20 to undertake a risky procedure where the chances of a=20 successful outcome are low.

Posted by: 2nd medical person on = May 20,=20 2008 at 06:12 AM
while the=20 original 'medical person' may not work for Coventry, I = am a=20 medical professional who used to work for them. Their = company=20 definition of experimental/investigational is pages = long and=20 excludes a great many things that most insurers pay = for.=20 Coventry is not in the business to pay claims or help = people=20 through illness/injury, they are in the business to = make money=20 for their shareholders. If you need health insurance, = go with=20 BCBS. while they have their issues too, they are local = and=20 have a vested interest in keeping local business. = Coventry is=20 based out of Bethesda, MD and has no vested interest = in=20 Nebraska.

Posted by: SP on May 20, 2008 at = 12:49=20 AM
I hope that = people can=20 remember it's not about blame it's not about sueing = anyone.=20 Agreed unless you take your own life no matter what = happens we=20 have NO choice on when or how we die. Right now it's = about=20 remember Dale and all that he has done it's not about = the=20 insurance company anymore. That is NOT the focus. Dale = was a=20 wonderful man who touched so many peoples lives and = his legacy=20 is going to live on in every single person he knew = because=20 that is the kind of man he was. To all of Dales family = and=20 friends you are in my prayers and it's sad and breaks = my heart=20 to lose such a wonderful person but he is without pain = and=20 with GOD now.

Posted by: Not from Coventry on = May 19, 2008=20 at 11:51 PM
While it's=20 definitely sad that he passed, and my heart goes out = to the=20 family, it's not the fault of the insurance company, = no matter=20 HOW you look at it. He developed an infection from the = first=20 transplant. I can't think of a single surgeon who = would=20 perform a surgery while a patient is fighting an = infection. I=20 know people who have had transplants. A lot of the = time, the=20 body rejects the transplant. Yes, it's terrible that = the=20 insurance company denied an experimental procedure (as = most of=20 them do), but they also deny elective surgeries as = well. My=20 own grandmother had to wait almost a week to have a = leg=20 fracture repaired because the surgery needed to insert = a rod=20 into her bone was deemed "elective." It happens. It = happens=20 every day. If my comment makes me appear cold and = heartless,=20 so be it. But nagging and lawsuits are not going to = bring this=20 man back. Unless you take your own life, we have NO = control of=20 when or how we're going to die. Plain and = simple.

Posted by: Medical Person on May = 19, 2008 at=20 11:49 PM
I do = not work for=20 Coventry - I just read the article - he had a recent = lung=20 transplant - a large number of lung transplant = patients=20 experience chronic rejection of donated lungs, with = rejection=20 rates of about 60 percent during the first five years = after=20 transplantation. A number of lung transplant patients = also=20 develop Cytomegalovirus (CMV) shortly after the lungs = are=20 transplanted. In any event, with the drugs he would be = on to=20 supress rejection of the lungs, he was = immunocompromised and=20 my guess is that he developed a severe case of CMV = and/or his=20 immune system turned on itself and was not producing = white=20 cells - Either way, as noted in MedLine (just search = the web=20 for "bone marrow transplant") "A bone marrow = transplant is not=20 recommended for patients with heart, kidney, lungs, or = liver=20 disorders or for patients with other diseases that may = limit=20 survival." The bone marrow transplant was a "swing for = the=20 fences" and was high risk.

Posted by: Brad on May 19, 2008 at = 11:14=20 PM
Coventry is = the worst=20 insurance company in the state. I have them at one of = Omaha's=20 largest employers too. They refuse to pay for = anything, but=20 have no problem collecting premiuns. There is no doubt = that=20 Coventry has a lot to do with the reason that this man = is now=20 dead.

Posted by: Hmm on May 19, 2008 at = 10:53=20 PM
If they would = only pay=20 a share of their insurance fee's like city employees = of=20 surrounding cities do maybe they would have blue cross = blue=20 shield and not this crappy coventry

Posted by: Sheena on May 19, 2008 = at 09:10=20 PM
My husband is = a=20 firefighter and its not because we don't pay for our = insurance=20 that Coventry is such poor coverage. Its who the Union = boards=20 and Mayor Fahey decide on not just for the police and=20 firefighters, but also all the other city employees. = Believe=20 me, my family was very upset when we got switched from = Blue=20 Cross to Coventry! They are a joke.

Posted by: Tom on May 19, 2008 at = 08:20=20 PM
I have = Coventry and=20 will be getting rid of asap. After seeing what they = have done=20 I'm afraid to go to the doctor for anything, Afraid = I'll be=20 denied medical.

Posted by: union. on May 19, 2008 = at 06:55=20 PM
Maybe if the = city=20 workers would pay we would have better insurance?? I = wouldn't=20 pay for that crappy coventry insurance. How many plans = do you=20 know that a female can not go to the doctor and get = her yearly=20 female exam?? One of the most important preventative = care=20 measures you can do and its not covered. Boy that is = some=20 insurance they have--line me up to pay a huge premium = for it.=20 Maybe if the city would negotiate good insurance and a = fair=20 rate plan the workers wouldn't be against paying. We = should=20 all just quit out jobs and ride the system. Works = better for=20 some. RIP Dale--maybe the STRESS the city and the = insurance=20 company put you thru for your last months on Earth = also played=20 a role....

Posted by: dan the man on May 19, = 2008 at=20 06:12 PM
to = Anonymous nice=20 try but a name means a lot in a post here you must be = an=20 employee of that phoney coventry. I do think that = medical=20 person is also an employee as any one in the medical = field=20 will not talk like that. We in our county had these so = called=20 insurance company they too messed with our employees. = We fired=20 them as they would not cover cancer treatments. Also = there are=20 nebraska laws that apply here one is 44-736,44-246 and = 44-213.02 I say use these to show covemtry they are = not above=20 the law. Very sad he had to die like this and these = people=20 will still treat others this way for the ol mighty = dollar. God=20 bless this man and his family I hope they sue big time = for=20 this

Posted by: Sad but true... on May = 19, 2008=20 at 04:36 PM
Sadly it seems=20 that the more we try to protect ourselves the worse we = end up=20 being. This man would probably been better off NOT = having=20 insurance rather than wait on some pencil-pusher to = decide if=20 his claim is worthy of being paid. Sandy makes a good = point=20 about foreigners getting better/cheaper coverage then = your=20 average tax paying US citizen.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, = 2008 at=20 04:07 PM
Let's = get=20 something cleared up for those blaming JUST the = insurance=20 company or JUST the city ... understand that the city = was=20 self-insured, meaning the CITY (Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer) = was=20 refusing to pay the bill. Their refusal was based on = their=20 reliance on Coventry to explain the medical odds and = the=20 experimentalness of the procedure.

Posted by: kathy on May 19, 2008 = at 03:50=20 PM
Sorry for = your loss and=20 for the city of Omaha's loss. Dale was one of the = finest in=20 Omaha, Let's call it pre-mediated murder for the city = of Omaha=20 not to pay for one of our brother's expenses. All the = lives he=20 saved and we couldn't step up to the plate and help = him save=20 his.

Posted by: Kathy on May 19, 2008 = at 03:29=20 PM
I'm sorry = this man=20 died, but the city and the insurance company are = certainly not=20 to blame. The insurance company cannot possibly cover = every=20 experimental procedure there is. I'm sure there are = many=20 situations where medical care is needed, but not = covered. Try=20 infertility treatment. Perhaps the police and fire = employees=20 should stop and consider the old saying that you get = what you=20 pay for. Remember their insurance coverage costs them = nothing.=20 Perhaps they, as a group, could cover some of the cost = of=20 their coverage in the hope that some of the extras = would be=20 covered.

Posted by: TL on May 19, 2008 at = 03:29=20 PM
We help all = the illegal=20 mexicans etc..but the city, state can't help one that = gave his=20 life to helping others.

Posted by: x on May 19, 2008 at = 03:23=20 PM
maybe if the = unions=20 weren't so opposed to increased insurance rates the = city could=20 select a better insurance company!

Posted by: JJJ on May 19, 2008 at = 03:22=20 PM
This is = terrible. It's=20 just shows us that a life is at the mercy of an = insurance=20 company. My heart goes to the family!

Posted by: Sandy on May 19, 2008 = at 03:00=20 PM
You know this = country=20 truly amazes me sometimes. You can bring a foreigner = over here=20 to receive medical care for free and then send them = back! But=20 yet here's a guy who dedicated his life to help save = others=20 and look what happens, he gets NO help! Truly=20 unbelievable!!

Posted by: brandi on May 19, 2008 = at 01:31=20 PM
Fausset = family... so=20 sorry to hear of Dalespassing. may God be with you and = comfort=20 you in your time of need. Dale... God bless and = Godspeed. you=20 and your brother, who donated the bone marrow, are = true=20 heros.Rest In Peace.

Posted by: Peggy on May 19, 2008 = at 01:20=20 PM
To The Truth = ..... it=20 is not the cities fault this happened, it was the = insurance=20 company-COVENTRY. By no means do I agree with the new = ballpark=20 but the city was helping this gentleman fight for the=20 coverage. We should all be very very proud of our=20 firefighters, they put their lives on the line = everyday to=20 help their communities. Prayers go out to this=20 family

Posted by: jm on May 19, 2008 at = 01:15=20 PM
This just = comfirms that=20 INSURANCE makes the world go 'round

Posted by: K on May 19, 2008 at = 01:05=20 PM
To "Medical = Person".=20 You must not have done your research or you probably = work for=20 Coventry, the worst insurance company ever! Again, = shame on=20 Coventry. Dale deserved a chance to have his life=20 saved.

Posted by: J on May 19, 2008 at = 12:55=20 PM
I think Dale = is a=20 HERO!! I am so sorry to hear he is gone. My prayers go = out to=20 him and his family. May god bless him and his family = and may=20 he rest in peace.

Posted by: Tonya on May 19, 2008 = at 12:54=20 PM
$150,000 = isn't terribly=20 expensive. Why wasn't a fundraiser held while he went = thru the=20 procedure and then payments could be made once the = funds were=20 collected? Why not have Mr Rich Man Buffet help out a = little=20 bit instead of constantly trying to make more money? = This=20 absolutely sickens me and I hope Coventry goes out of=20 business!!!! God Bless you, Dale!!!

Posted by: sara on May 19, 2008 at = 12:25=20 PM
I knew = someone who had=20 a bone marrow transplant even with that there was no = gaurantee=20 it would make her live, Well she died a little while = latter so=20 to say that insurance would pay for it killed him is = not true,=20 only God knows how long we have and for all we know he = could=20 of had this bone marrow transplant too and died = because of it=20 also.

Posted by: Essie on May 19, 2008 = at 12:15=20 PM
to "Medical = Person"=20 -don't know where you got your MD but go back to = school. There=20 are over 100 centers in the U.S. that perform this=20 "experimental" treatment. The problem is with = Coventry's=20 definition of what constitutes treatment for = infectious=20 complications arising from transplantation. Any = treatment=20 option that is newer than when their definition was = written,=20 is automatically stamped "experimental" and the = problem is=20 those definitions were probably written in the 1980's = when=20 bone marrow transplantation was only an idea. Then, = the=20 medical advisor to Coventry hasn't practiced practical = medicine for a couple decades and knows nothing about = advances=20 in treatments of various diseases - or you have a = nurse who is=20 acting as the medical advisor. I won't even go into = the=20 problems with that. P.S. I work in the field of=20 transplantation and deal with insurance companies. We = see this=20 same ignorance on an almost daily basis from about 90% = of the=20 insurance companies we deal with.

Posted by: S on May 19, 2008 at = 11:59=20 AM
I am so sorry = for this=20 family and the loss. Although it is not the insurance = company=20 that caused this patient's death, Coventry and their = policies=20 are quite archaic and extremely conservative compared = to many=20 other insurance companies. They are definitely not = supporters=20 of emerging treatments and the use of experimental and = investigational is something they like to use = frequently,=20 which is unfortunate for their insureds. It is a shame = that=20 you have to get an attorney or a union involved to get = an=20 insurance company to approve payment for a potentially = life=20 saving procedure.

Posted by: KS on May 19, 2008 at = 11:50=20 AM
I also hope = the City of=20 Omaha does not renew their contract with Coventry. Our = family=20 has experienced nothing but problems. Even our health = care=20 providers have made comments about how hard it is to = get a=20 claim approved by Coventry. God Bless Dale's family. = He was a=20 wonderful man and friend. He will be deeply = missed.

Posted by: Jeff on May 19, 2008 at = 11:48=20 AM
First and = foremost my=20 deepest sympathy to Dale's family and friends. You = should have=20 never had to go through this. Secondly to those = "defending"=20 Conventry here are wrong and outta line. As a City = employee I=20 can tell yo uever since someone screwed up at BC/BS = and we got=20 Coventry it has sucked. Things BC/BS paid for Coventry = won't=20 cover EVEN AS A SECONDARY INSURANCE!! Trying to get = things=20 takend care of with them is like solving the old Rubix = Cube.=20 The sad part is my Union has some reps that seem to = side with=20 Coventry more than us. I don't know who or what = Coventy has=20 over on people but they are worthless - yet nothing = has been=20 done to resolve numberous issues. Hopefully BC/BS will = get the=20 bid again. Then maybe we can avoid future injustices = such as=20 here in Dale's case. Final note to the City - if you = want us=20 to pay for insurance then let us choose - you = shouldn't get to=20 decide what's "best" for us and our = families.

Posted by: Liz on May 19, 2008 at = 11:44=20 AM
This is a = tragedy! As=20 long as we have a "for profit" health care system, the = only=20 people who won't profit are the patients. It doesn't = matter=20 who the insurance company is, the same things keep = happening.=20 We need universal health care and we need it now! = There is no=20 cost control mechanism in the current system, which = leads to=20 the kind of coverage denials we're seeing, as too many = people=20 use the emergency room as their first line of medical = care for=20 acute care needs!

Posted by: Coggs on May 19, 2008 = at 11:34=20 AM
Nice, the = city can=20 supposedly afford a $50 million trolley system that = goes=20 nowhere for insipid yuppies but fights saving this = heroes=20 life. Shameful.

Posted by: LJ on May 19, 2008 at = 11:33=20 AM
Sorry folks, = but=20 Medical Person's entry is accurate.

Posted by: Joe U on May 19, 2008 = at 11:23=20 AM
Hey insurance = companies, sometimes I wonder what your thinking! Your = inability to insure this poor guy is now going to cost = you a=20 fortune. This family will not let this go.I would'nt! = He=20 contracted a virus while you were making up your minds = to help=20 him. This will be proven and your going to pay dearly. = Next=20 time dont be so unfeeling.If your still in business = after this=20 one. Rest in peace Mr. Fausset. My prayers to the=20 family.

Posted by: The Truth on May 19, = 2008 at=20 10:45 AM
What a = shame that=20 a man who dedicated his life to the City of Omaha was = ignored=20 by it in his time of need; but hey, how about that new = ballpark......

Posted by: betts on May 19, 2008 = at 09:05=20 AM
Shame on the=20 individuals, companies and/or government bodies who = are=20 responsible for this!!!!!!!! Insurance companies are a = business and answer to their shareholders, but a life = is far=20 more important than turning a profit. I pray for his=20 family.

Posted by: Les on May 19, 2008 at = 09:03=20 AM
I think = Coventry NOT=20 the city should be sued for withholding life saving = treatment=20 from this man. It is horrific that they did this. My = thoughts=20 and prayers go out to Mr. Fausset's family.

Posted by: Tony on May 19, 2008 at = 09:02=20 AM
I'm so sorry = to learn=20 Dale passed away. I know his brother Duane who = unselfishly=20 gave of himself to try to save his brothers life. A = true=20 unsung hero in my eyes. May God bless the Faussett = family and=20 give them all comfort.

Posted by: Paul on May 19, 2008 at = 08:41=20 AM
Lets build a = new=20 stadium and we can fund it by the money we save in = denied=20 claims.I say,I hope, to the soon to be x mayor ,let us = take=20 care of the living.SHAME on you for not helping that = man and=20 his family.

Posted by: Rich on May 19, 2008 at = 07:57=20 AM
Since the = city changed=20 to coventry in 2006, there's been nothing but = problems. My=20 wife and I were in a terrible accident in 2006 and = coventry=20 refused to pay for things my wife needed and that were = covered. Only when I had the union get involved did = coventry=20 do their job properly.They consistantly deny claims = that they=20 eventually pay for. This time it may have been more = costly=20 than they planned. My prayers are with the Fausset = family. I=20 hope and pray the city does not renew their contract = with=20 coventry. They have no regaurd for life, just=20 money.

Posted by: Medical Person on May = 19, 2008 at=20 07:31 AM
This = procedure IS=20 experimental, and there was a good chance he would = have died=20 from infection if the procedure had been done day 1. = They=20 delay over coverage had nothing to do with the end = result. The=20 doctors wanted an insurance company to basically pay = for their=20 research on a human subject.

Posted by: A on May 19, 2008 at = 05:50=20 AM
Slip, it = sounds like=20 your worried about your own money. What about Dale and = his=20 family? He was only trying to get better and this is = what you=20 worry about. Dont you think his family is going = through enough=20 with out you worry about having to pay. Get a = life.

Posted by: Mitch on May 19, 2008 = at 04:37=20 AM
Dale was one = of the=20 best in helping Omaha in times of need. An outstanding = paramedic and firefighter, he will always be = remembered by=20 many for the countless acts of kindness and courage = that came=20 natural to him. The community of Omaha and the Omaha = Fire=20 Department has lost a friend, hero and leader. We will = continue to pray for Dale's family and the family of=20 firefighters. May you rest in peace Dale; you fought a = courageous fight that many could have not endured. May = your=20 light shine forever, you will never be forgotten. God = Bless=20 You.

Posted by: Slip on May 19, 2008 at = 01:13=20 AM
I'm more = concerned with=20 the lawyers that will get control of this man's = family, and=20 take the city to court for millions of dollars that = all the=20 rest of us will have to fork over in a lawsuit. Until = all of=20 you know both sides of the story, do not blame the = city for=20 following the written guidelines.

Posted by: Reality Check on May = 19, 2008 at=20 12:35 AM
That's = too bad.=20 Thank you for fighting fires and keeping us = safe.

Posted by: Tim V on May 19, 2008 = at 12:28=20 AM
I am not = lawsuit happy.=20 But, I hope Dale's family sues the insurance company, = the city=20 and more. I am sure the insurance company executives = are=20 covered for everything and probably own 3-6 houses = apiece at=20 corporate expense. But they can't seem to provide = insurance=20 coverage at any cost!

Posted by: Mary O. on May 18, 2008 = at 11:20=20 PM
To the = Fausset family=20 and friends, I have been following this story and = praying for=20 Dale. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. May Dale = finally=20 rest peacefully and may that thought bring you some = comfort=20 during this sorrowful time. God bless.

Posted by: K on May 18, 2008 at = 10:55=20 PM
Shame on = Coventry! A=20 life was lost because of the stupidity of this = insurance=20 company. Dale Fausset needed this bone marrow = transplant and=20 instead the insurance company had to argue about=20 paying.....why get insurance? I am so mad! Dale saved = lives=20 and now the City of Omaha/Coventry couldn't of done = the right=20 thing and let Dale have the chance to have his life = saved.=20 This insurance needs to pay now.... Thank you Channel = for=20 sharing this story. My prayers go out to Dale's = family....May=20 God bring you comfort.

Posted by: Jamie on May 18, 2008 = at 10:53=20 PM
Dale may you = RIP. I=20 worked with you and your dad and you use to be my = dad's driver=20 on the fire department. I knew you and your family = well and I=20 want to send my deepest condolences to the Fausett = family. I=20 will pray for you and your family; you will be missed=20 Dale!

Posted by: jail the politicians on = May 18,=20 2008 at 10:20 PM
I hope=20 they die in the same way.

Posted by: Susie on May 18, 2008 = at 09:53=20 PM
What is the = price of a=20 life..... Dale, Thank you for doing a job most of us = couldnt=20 do. Rest in peace and my prayers for your = family.

Posted by: Tommy on May 18, 2008 = at 09:38=20 PM
Dale spent = his entire=20 career helping others, as an Omaha Firefighter, and = when it=20 came time for the City of Omaha to step up to the = plate and=20 help him, one of their own, they failed him. Thoughts = and=20 prayers to the family of Dale. Shame of on the City of = Omaha.=20 I have never been more disgusted with the city and = their BS=20 lame excuses.

Posted by: Dick on May 18, 2008 at = 08:37=20 PM
Dale, rest in = peace.=20 Your pain is no more. You fought a courageous battle. = You will=20 be missed by all that knew you. My sincere sympathy to = your=20 family. May you remain in their hearts = forever.

Posted by: Brittany on May 18, = 2008 at 08:29=20 PM
Dale you were = truly a=20 hero. A man who sacrificed for our city for years. I = have=20 prayed so hard for you and your family, and I'm deeply = saddened and angry to read this news. May God take you = into=20 his loving arms and heal you. My deepest condolences = to the=20 family, my prayers are with you.

Posted by: Bill on May 18, 2008 at = 08:27=20 PM
Sorry to read = of Dales=20 Passing. Former Security Officer At Bergan Mercy and = Immanuel.=20 I worked with Dale and his father Duane.

Posted by: mTm on May 18, 2008 at = 08:21=20 PM
I work in = insurance=20 defense and hate personal injury lawsuits but this one = really=20 gets me p'o'ed. If they'd offered to pay at the start = - maybe=20 he'd have a chance. Maybe if he was poor or a minority = the=20 government would have paid for it. My prayers are with = his=20 family/friends.

Posted by: FF on May 18, 2008 at = 08:17=20 PM
It is my only = hope that=20 this story is picked up nationally. And our mayor's = office is=20 exposed to be the money hungry, power grabbing scumbag = he is!=20 In my opinion they are to blame, his death is on your = hands=20 Mike Fahey. God bless you Dale- may your death not be = in=20 vain.

Posted by: Chris on May 18, 2008 = at 07:54=20 PM
Whether the = death of a=20 hero comes by a gun or by a pen, it all seems the same = to=20 me.

Posted by: Here on May 18, 2008 at = 07:49=20 PM
May you find = peace in=20 your hearts. God bless you and keep you safe. Another = angel=20 flying already with wings. Rest in peace = Dale.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 18, = 2008 at=20 07:41 PM
I dont = think you=20 should blame the insurance company. but i guess you = have to=20 blame someone

Posted by: obed on May 18, 2008 at = 06:43=20 PM
My = condolences to the=20 Faussett family. I loss my wife to Lung Cancer some = years=20 ago.Even to this day I keep thinking "IF ONLY" A loss = of this=20 kind is tragic for all involved. Obed = Elland

Posted by: JOwens on May 18, 2008 = at 06:41=20 PM
Shame on = Omaha!!! My=20 deepest sympathy to the family, may your memories keep = Dale=20 alive in your hearts.

Posted by: City Worker on May 18, = 2008 at=20 06:37 PM
Can we = now get=20 rid of Coventy? My heart goes out to the family. God=20 Bless.

Posted by: Bill on May 18, 2008 at = 06:36=20 PM
We are so = sorry for=20 your loss. Shame on the greedy parties involved - the = City of=20 Omaha and the insurance. It seems like money comes = before a=20 person's life. We will keep your family in our = prayers. May=20 God Bless Dale.

Posted by: Dan on May 18, 2008 at = 06:19=20 PM
You were one = of the=20 good guys, Dale. Rest in peace.

Posted by: BK on May 18, 2008 at = 05:17=20 PM
How sad. A = hero dies=20 because the bureaucrats and insurance executives want = to argue=20 about whether or not they are going to pay. What good = is=20 medical insurance if they won't pay to make you = better. I=20 guess they feel it's cheaper to wait it out. They're = the ones=20 with all the time, not people like Dale. RIP Dale. God = bless.

Posted by: overseas on May 18, = 2008 at 05:09=20 PM
I am so sorry = for your=20 loss. I will keep your family in my = prayers.

Save Email Print=20

=20

Ailing=20 Firefighter Dies

Dale=20 Fausset also fought for benefits to cover=20 operation
Posted:=20 4:42 PM May 18, 2008
Last=20 Updated: 11:40 PM May 18, 2008
Email=20 Address: mailto:sixonline@wowt.com?subject=3DAiling=20 Firefighter Dies

77 comments=20

A | A | A

Omaha firefighter and paramedic Dale Fausset, who = fought=20 the city to get coverage for a bone marrow transplant, = died=20 Saturday night.

Fausset was forced to wait because the city, which = is=20 self-insured, initially wouldn't approve the $150,000 = cost.=20 After weeks of fighting, the insurance company settled = last=20 month.

Fausset worked for years at Omaha Fire Station 5 = (formerly=20 Station 20) as a paramedic shift supervisor, living = his life=20 on a watch, always knowing time is everything when = saving=20 lives.

But when he needed the bone marrow transplant, his = doctors=20 fought with the city's insurance, which called it=20 experimental. He waited nearly three weeks before the = city=20 agreed to the procedure.

"During the time that Dale was waiting for approval = of the=20 transplant, during that extended period of time, he = contracted=20 an infection," says Darren Bates with the Omaha = Firefighters=20 Union.

Six On Your Side had previously reported about = Fausset=E2=80=99s=20 struggle. When he retired his health deteriorated. "He = really=20 never got an opportunity to enjoy his retirement," = says Bates.=20 "He got sick before he left the job."

Fausset had a lung transplant, but it got worse and = doctors=20 determined he needed a bone marrow transplant because = of=20 complications, but insurance to cover it was = denied.

Coventry, the city's health benefits manager, = finally=20 agreed to pay for the procedure after an appeal by = Fausset,=20 his family, and his union. "It was a very big extended = period=20 of time,=E2=80=9D says Bates. =E2=80=9CWe have been = fighting this for a very=20 extended period of time. We were fighting for weeks to = get him=20 coverage for the bone marrow transplant."

Others provided chartered flights and fundraisers = to offset=20 medical expenses not paid by Coventry. His brother = agreed to=20 donate the bone marrow, but infection took over his = body=20 before the bone marrow could take effect.

"He was never able to fight off the infection," = says Bates.=20 "The whole idea of the bone marrow transplant was so = that his=20 body could begin fighting that kind of infection, = producing=20 white cells that would be able to start fighting=20 infections."

A memorial and funeral are being=20 = planned.

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