Dr. Jones, Lyme Pediatrician, Needs our help

[Hopeny]

Dr. Jones, a pioneer in the fight against Lyme, is being persecuted by the State of Connecticut essentially around his prescribing of antibiotics. I know that many kids have both PANS/Lyme, but more importantly what Dr. Jones is going through puts all of our doctors at risk. He has continued to see patients, never turning anyone away, at great financial peril risking bankruptcy due to huge legal bills and legal monitoring requirements. he is at risk of evicition, and there is a call for donations online or by mail. Please consider helping Dr. Jones so he can continue to treat our kids and also as a precendent that we will not let this happen to any of our doctors that are courageous and confident enough to help our children. I know Dr. J shares many patients with Dr. B. and I am sure other PANDAS doctors. Read the story online here or more below:http://www.indiegogo.com/JonesAppeal. Thank you

 

From: Phyllis Mervine <phyllis@mervine.us>

Subject: [NewYorkLyme] Dr. Jones in serious financial trouble

To: ConnecticutLyme@yahoogroups.com, "Maine Happy Dickey" <cdickeyrn@midmaine.com>, MaineLyme@yahoogroups.com, newhampshireLyme@yahoogroups.com, RhodeIslandLyme@yahoogroups.com, "RI Rick Laferriere" <rlaferriere@gmail.com>, MassachusettsLyme@yahoogroups.com, "New York Lyme" <NewYorkLyme@yahoogroups.com>, vermontlyme@yahoogroups.com

Date: Monday, January 28, 2013, 7:06 AM

 

 

 

January 28, 2013

 

Dear Friends,

 

First, I want to thank each and every one of you who responded to my

last update by donating to my legal defense fund.Your generous response

helped to reduce the outstanding balance, preserving my legal

representation.The hearing before the Connecticut Supreme Court is

expected to take place early this year.That proceeding is not able to

accommodate a large audience, but I promise to keep you posted on the

outcome!

 

Unfortunately, a very serious financial crisis is hitting my office

which I must bring to your attention.As you know, my office has been

under an enormous amount of stress for many years, due to the charges

brought against me by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board (CMEB).In

addition to huge legal fees and fines, the imposition of four years of

monthly monitoring has posed an enormous burden, financial and

otherwise.The monitor had to be hired through an agency, and his fees

have been astronomical, averaging $4,000 per month.

 

This would be bad enough, but it also takes a great number of clerical

hours to prepare each patient chart according to the specific and

detailed format that he requires.This must be done by an experienced

staff member, familiar with my practice.Due to the demands of the

practice itself, she often has to do this after hours, resulting in

overtime costs of about $2,000 per month.

 

When I first learned of the monitoring requirement, which was unusually

stringent in terms of both its frequency and duration, I feared that it

could drive me into bankruptcy.As a result, I have had to make some

difficult modifications, to reduce our operating costs and keep the

office open.For example, we have reduced our staffing from 5 to 3

medical assistants, very challenging for all of us, given the high

demands posed by our very ill pediatric patients.I work 6 days a week

seeing patients.I had hoped to train another pediatrician by now who

would assist at my office and become my successor, butthis has not been

feasible, due to the adversarial climate surrounding my practice.

 

My attorney has petitioned the CMEB on at least one occasion, requesting

that they reduce the monitoring requirement.The monitoring agency

supported this request because the monitor has found no problems with my

practice, but the CMEB denied it.Some of my colleagues have set up a

fund to try to help with these costs, for which I am very grateful, but

this has not been sufficient.

 

Despite these challenges, we were managing to break even financially

until Hurricane Sandy hit, followed by a significant snowstorm.Patients,

unable to leave their homes, had to cancel their appointments, and we

saw almost no one during a two-week period.The loss of revenue,

approximately $36,000, was devastating, and the office has been unable

to recover financially. We have had to pay the monitor throughout this

difficult period, in order to avoid my being held in contempt by the

CMEB.As a result, I have fallen seriously behind in paying rent,

salaries, utilities and more.I have been told by my building manager

that if payment is not forthcoming by February 1, the corporation which

owns my building will begin eviction proceedings.

 

**

 

*In a nutshell, I am experiencing a financial crisis, and I will be

forced to close my practice unless I am able to raise $40,000 within the

next few days.*It pains me deeply that a great number of patients and

their families could be left without adequate care, and once again to

have to turn to you for assistance.Any sum will be appreciated, but it

must arrive at once!I will do my best to keep you apprised of the

situation, including the point at which our goal is reached.At present,

I regret that we do not have a Paypal option, but I will let you know if

that changes.Please make your checks out to me and send them to the

following address:

 

Charles Ray Jones, M.D.

 

111 Park Street, 1^st Floor

 

New Haven, CT 06511

 

(please write "gift" in the memo field)

 

I want to assure you that my practice continues to be busy and I am

seeing new patients, often on a daily basis.I was deeply touched by a

recent letter from an adolescent patient, who had just returned to

school after years of illness.She wrote:"Thank you, Dr. Jones, for

healing me."I cherish as always the opportunity to treat so many

children with tick-borne diseases and to witness their return to health.

 

I am encouraged too by the fact that the monitoring requirement,

burdensome as it is, is now more than halfway completed.That is a light

at the end of the tunnel, and will make a tremendous difference in the

longer-term financial stability of my office.To achieve this however,

*we need to overcome the immediate crisis!*

 

Thank you for your attention and support. If we are successful in

meeting the current financial challenge, I pledge to continue to do all

that I can for our children with tick-borne diseases!

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Jones

 

Charles Ray Jones, M.D.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Hopeny

[MamaOnAMission]

He's a terrific man and has helped my child. I am sending money.

[lmkmip67]

I can understand the struggles this all causes. We have an appointment to see Dr. J in April. I will admit this causes me concern about being able to receive ongoing treatment for my son if we do indeed find Lyme is an issue for us. I wish I could help him, but am putting all funds I can towards the fee for the initial visit at this time. I hope he is able to bounce back. I have not met him yet, but many speak very highly of him, and report great results for their children.

[mdmom]

bumping this to keep it alive....

[Hopeny]

Lmkip there are a lot of financial struggles with theses illnesses, after a year I feel I am finally coming up for air. Lymeaid4kids may be able to help you with the initial flvisut fees. For those who can please consider contributing so everyone can have access to care. I can't imagine what will happen to our kids if we can't get care for them. Dr J was one of the first to recognize that Lyme required antibiotics when others insisted it was a virus. His trouble started as I understand as the result if a phone consult for a child he was trying to help.

[ptcgirl]

Any news on Dr Jones? I haven't heard anything in the last couple of days....

[ptcgirl]

I just checked on the link above and over $10k was given so far. AwEsOmE! But he really needs more. Please consider contributing to his fund. He was instrumental in healing my child. He may be the one who helps your child too. It was easy to donate as it comes from your paypal or credit card. They take any amount. Even $1. I sure hope he stays in business and is able to train some younger drs.