posted
Clinic debt prompts bankruptcy filing Lyme disease specialist's office owes at least $2 million, records show KAREN GARLOCH [email protected] Dr. Joseph Jemsek, who was disciplined by the N.C. Medical Board this summer for his unorthodox diagnoses and treatment of Lyme disease, filed for bankruptcy last week on behalf of his Huntersville clinic.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows the Jemsek Clinic, recently renamed Jemsek Specialty Clinic, to operate while restructuring its debt.
"For 27 years, I have been focused on patient care, and that focus will not change," Jemsek said in a news release.
Federal court documents show the clinic owes more than $2 million to its top 20 creditors, including about $22,000 to the Mecklenburg County tax collector, $1.2 million to Scottish Bank and $716,000 to First Citizens Bank. Bankruptcy law gives the clinic 120 days to file a reorganization plan.
Meanwhile, Jemsek, an infectious disease specialist, has reduced his staff. Two HIV/AIDS specialists who joined the clinic this year, Drs. Octavio Cieza and Frederick Cruickshank, have left to start their own Huntersville practice, Rosedale Infectious Diseases.
Most insurance companies terminated their contracts with Jemsek Clinic either at the time of the July board hearing or afterward, according to Jemsek's spokeswoman Joyce Poole. Patients must now pay out of pocket at the time of service, then apply to their insurance company for reimbursement.
Jemsek, who has been a leader in HIV/AIDS treatment, has decided to focus his practice on Lyme disease and associated illnesses, Poole said.
In July, the state medical board imposed restrictions on Jemsek's Lyme disease practice but allowed him to continue seeing patients.
During a public hearing, several witnesses testified that Jemsek misdiagnosed them with the tick-borne illness and treated them with intravenous antibiotics for many months without telling them the treatment exceeded the standard.
The board requires that his patients sign consent forms explaining that they understand his treatment differs from that of most N.C. doctors.
Posts: 510 | From NEVERLAND.USA | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
THE WORD TREATMENT STANDARD,really needs taken out of the guidlines.All patients are different.
Posts: 510 | From NEVERLAND.USA | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
What was the good Doctors debt before the law suit?
This is a great example of why those needing help will not get it due to threats of law suits. Most doctors will not fight the system.
Posts: 219 | From Aubur,Al. USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
We just saw info on here recently about another lyme doctor who was not paid by Blue Cross for lyme patients because he did not diagnose and treat according to their guidelines. From reading the paper trail, it looked like this lead him into bankruptcy and then more problems for not paying taxes.
There may be more to his story that isn't clear but what is clear is that we have to pay out of pocket because our LLMD's continue to be driven out of business by insurance companies who refuse to pay because the doctor doesn't follow their guidelines. A very effective way to put LLMD's out of business. Is it any wonder that LLMD's have to charge the patient directly?
The other side often uses the argument that LLMD's are trying to bilk the patient for money and this is why they won't take insurance when in reality, those who do take insurance, risk being driven out of business because as soon as the insurance company has an opening, they will refuse to pay, leaving the doctor holding the bag. In many cases, if the doctor wants to continue diagnosing and treating lyme effectively, they lose their insurance contract and couldn't take insurance even if they wanted to.
Puts a new perspective on the reason why LLMD's don't take insurance. They must protect themselves, and by doing so, they protect our ability to get effective lyme treatment.
The next time one of my ducks makes a comment about the cost of getting treated by an LLMD (and 2 have brought it up), they'll get an earful from me! Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
The insurance companies did not pay him what was owed, in fact they are behind the state medical board action against him. These companies have even had the gall to ask for refunds of payments already made, because of the board's action.
This is the reason for the bankruptcy, that and those worthless patients who took his treatment but are now suing him, including that dope that was so careless she had five line infections, and is apparently counting on the court award from the lawsuit to pay for her recent plastic surgery.
State medical boards are not interested in removing bad doctors, they are puppets of the insurance companies and are enforcing rules that punish doctors who cost insurance companies too much money. It hurts their profit margin. Anyone for socialized medicine? How can it be worse?
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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3greatkids
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3838
posted
This is the reason for the bankruptcy, that and those worthless patients who took his treatment but are now suing him, including that dope that was so careless she had five line infections, and is apparently counting on the court award from the lawsuit to pay for her recent plastic surgery.Lou****
Plastic Surgery?????????LOU????
She has her priorities in order.Oh,I get it.At least she will look good,staying in bed,looking in the mirror,too sick to move.
I understand,completely.
Bad hair days really drive me crazy and having to deal w/ Lyme on top of it all! Plus,my nose is a tad crooked and if I had bigger cook-a rachas,I could Tango w/ the rest of those Gold Diggers....lord please forgive me,I have lost my way.
Karma baby!It'll get ya.I really hope it was a much needed procedure....please lord,give me faith.
unorthodox diagnoses??????I thought the guidelines prior to this did INCLUDE CLINICAL?
Well, we are screwed here in NC.Ticks everywhere,kids coming down daily w/ strange stuff.Keep hiking,bikin,campin...enjoy.OBX=big time ticks.NC mtns=big time ticks.Developers scraping the land,no trees,no vision,but.....no lyme here!Save the day RTP!
ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
Yea, this medical board ruling and BCBS terminating his contract has effectively ruined Dr. J's career and dreams. Not to mention taken him out of the HIV/AIDS arena, since he can no longer treat these patients. Since BCBS dropped him totally, these patients are also affected by this. He is internationally known for his contributions to HIV/AIDS and has developed countless protocols which have saved many lives.
I talked with Dr. J earlier today by phone. He is hanging in there. Think about it - he could say the hell with all these Lyme people, I need to distance myself from them to protect my career. But no, what is he doing? - he is fighting for US and will continue to fight for US. He has taken the fall for US. We need to support him in any way that we can.
Dr. J has asked me to post some info later today or tomorrow which will bring all up to date on his clinic, etc.
I continue to be amazed by his commitment to the cause.
Posts: 2276 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
These docs are really courageous, dedicated souls.
Posts: 393 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jun 2005
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Good for you lou..
You said.. "This is the reason for the bankruptcy, that and those worthless patients who took his treatment but are now suing him, including that dope that was so careless she had five line infections, and is apparently counting on the court award from the lawsuit to pay for her recent plastic surgery."
Glad YOU said that.. cause I was ready to kick the instigator even harder.. and would have surely caused a ruckus.
We know the idiot behind this... and I have a message for that person cause I KNOW they read here... the poor pitiful whimp.
Dear IDIOT,
I am glad I won't be in YOUR shoes when the judgement day comes.
posted
Who are you calling an idiot? I posted this article because i agree,that this doctor is fighting for himself and lyme patients.I only posted the article because the next to last paragraph states"he exceeded the treatment standards".EVERY lyme patient is different so how do they consider he went beyond standards,when every lyme patient as i said is different.
Posts: 510 | From NEVERLAND.USA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Guess you can't call someone an idiot without a half dozen or so folks thinking it MIGHT be them?
HA!
THIS idiot knows who they are.
And not to worry the rest of you. Or maybe consider this..
ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
Tincup, was plastic surgery Heather a Lymenet member? If so, under what screenname. I hope the hell I wasn't the one who led her Dr. J's way.
I truly wonder what the "damages" are for her case. She certainly looks fine. As for the other lawsuit, the death, I understand the woman had more drug in her than was even prescribed by J Clinic. I suspect a suicide, assisted suicide or maybe even murder. Unfortunately, none of this was ever investigated.
Heather has some nerve if she is reading this board.
Posts: 2276 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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northstar
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7911
posted
'lil ms plastic surgery heather was quoted in the the Raleigh paper that she filed the complaint/brought charges to save other lyme patients from what she had gone through,.,.....poor victim that she wants to portray.
Of course, with such generous compassionate but hollow spoken words, it would be assumed she would donate her ill-gotten gains to lyme research, i.e. put your money where your mouth is.
She has destroyed more lives than one can count in order to serve her selfish and morally repugnant reasons.
Help others? She is not fooling anyone, not even her soul.
Northstar
Posts: 1331 | From hither and yonder | Registered: Sep 2005
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Plus,my nose is a tad crooked and if I had bigger cook-a rachas,I could Tango w/ the rest of those Gold Diggers....lord please forgive me,I have lost my way.![[cussing]](graemlins/cussing.gif)
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