Volume 1 Issue 1 | AMP 1 STUDIO NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2020| ISSUE 1

AMP 1 STUDIO The Amp Life Talk Radio Listener Newsletter

GREETINGS AMP NATION! Message from the Host Sean Harrison Well, it's finally here, the "newsletter" I have been talking about since I started Amp Life Talk Radio.

IN THIS ISSUE

A MESSAGE FROM THE HOST

What's it all about? There are so many things, issues and topics I want to talk about or should I say ramble about that I can't don on the podcast. Not to mention services and products I would like to share with you.

ANGEL CITY GAMES IN LOS ANGELES 2019

The newsletter is my attempt at bringing you additional information, resources, stories, products and services I find to be useful or interesting. I also want to use this newsletter to say thanks to you, my

LISTENER OF THE MONTH

listener because without you the show would be nothing.

This is the very first edition of the newsletter which

DOES YOUR DOCTOR

will be produced on a monthly time basis, if you would

KNOW HOW TO JUSTIFY

like the digital newsletter please subscribe by

YOUR PROSTHESIS?

registering your email here: subscribe@amplifetalkradio.com

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JUNE 2020| ISSUE 1

The 2019 Angel City Games, presented by The Hartford, is much more than just sports. It's about learning how to navigate the world to make the most of your abilities.

DAY 1 of the 2019 Angel City Games presented

by The Hartford was a success with archery, and table tennis. The event also had Track and Field, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, They also had something called the "Experience Zone" and the Great Games Cookout!

Visit www.angelcitygames.org for more details! They want everyone with a physical disability to find their passion OFF the court, field, pool & track, as much as we want to see them winning medals or breaking world records.

Angel City Sports provides year-round adaptive sports opportunities in Southern California for children, adults and veterans with physical disabilities and mobility impairments. 2019 ANGEL CITY GAMES • June 20-23 at UCLA Presented by The Hartford

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

"Dave Ganas's gracious and kind demeanor wherever he goes...even though he is one of the toughest athletes at ACG." Mike Benning

by Sean Harrison The Angel City Games showcased 7 Adaptive Sports Clinics & Competitions including: Track & Field

Swimming Wheelchair Tennis Archery Wheelchair Basketball Sitting Volleyball Table Tennis ATHLETE PARTICIPATION

Clinics and competitions at the Games are open to athletes of all ages and ability levels with any physical disability or visual impairment.

Registration fees are donations based, and Athlete Scholarships are available to assist with travel costs.

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AWithin 4 years, the sports program was expanded to include Archery, Swimming and Wheelchair Tennis, and participation more than doubled with over 300 athletes attending in 2018. As the event enters its 5th year in 2019, Sitting Volleyball and Table Tennis have been added to create more opportunities for kids, adults and military veterans with physical disabilities to play sports.

The Angel City Games is a family friendly event with wide array of activities and special events throughout the week for all to enjoy. The goal is to celebrate the talents and strengths of adaptive athletes, and create a community of support and understanding around sports. People with physical disabilities can learn new skills from expert coaches, compete in sports they love, and everyone can be part of the experience to get a sense of what being an adaptive athlete is all about. Though Los Angeles is the host for the Angel City Games, participants in the past have traveled from all over the country and world to compete, learn and connect with others in the disability community.

This page is also where people see what's in the following pages, so making sure that you have interesting headlines lined up in the table of contents can work to your advantage.Â

THE HISTORY

by Sean Harrison The Angel City Games is the premier adaptive sports festival in the Western United States,

Media coverage for the Angel City Games has included segments on ESPN, Huffington Post, KABC-TV, KTLA-TV, and AM570 LA Sports Radio.

Over the past 4 years the Angel City Games has drawn the attention of Hollywood celebs, professional athletes, Olympians and Paralympians, who come to cheer on the athletes and participate in the annual Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball Game, including: actor Adam Sandler, actor Christian Bale, actress Donna D'Errico (Baywatch), actress Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), actor Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure), actor Kenny Johnson (The Shield), actor Jacob Bertrand (Kirby Buckets), actor Boyd Kestner (The Outsiders), Lisa Marie Varon (WWE), Toby Bailey (UCLA/NBA), Brendon Ayanbadejo (NFL / Baltimore Ravens), Tyus Edney (UCLA/NBA), Kris Kluwe (NFL).

offering clinics, competitions and special events for people of all ages and skill levels who have a physical disability or mobility impairment.

The inaugural Angel City Games was held in June, 2015 at UCLA's Drake Stadium, with 125 athletes participating in Track & Field and Wheelchair Basketball. The event was designed to offer those who are new to adaptive sports the opportunity to learn in a clinic with experienced coaches, then participate in competition. At the first event, athletes ranged in age from 3 to 72, with several taking part in their first ever adaptive sports experience.

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Thanks to our sponsors, we are now able to simplify the pricing for the Angel City Games, presented by The Hartford. For all general attendees, you will see “suggested donation” on the already low prices as you click through to our online registration.

This means you can pay whatever amount is affordable to you. If you want to donate MORE than your final total at the end of the online registration process then the organization would be grateful for your generosity.

If you need to pay any amount less than your total (including zero dollars), we’re still grateful you’re part of the Games and sincerely thank you for that donation as well. We simply don’t want cost to be a reason you can’t be part of this special weekend festival! (Please note, any additional The non-profit organization is focused on encouraging physical activity for people with disabilities and advancing the adaptive sports movement regionally and nationally in collaboration with programs and partners such as US Paralympics, Adaptive Sports USA, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Disabled Sports USA, US Tennis Association and USA Volleyball.

Sports programs, clinics and events throughout the year cover a wide range of adaptive sports including Track and Field, Wheelchair Basketball,

merchandise you purchase on our registration system (shirts & caps) are not part of the “suggested donation” program and will have a set price attached.)

Contact Info: 2019 Angel City Games June 20-23, 2019 Drake Stadium - UCLA 340 Bruin Walk Los Angeles, CA 90095 INFO@ANGELCITYGAMES.ORG

Wheelchair Tennis, Fencing, Archery, Sitting Volleyball, Golf, SCUBA, Swimming, Kayaking, Rowing, Soccer and more. Angel City Sports has the largest inventory of adaptive sports wheelchairs in the Western US, currently made available to anyone interested in participating but unable to acquire the proper equipment. The organization also supports emerging schoolbased programs through adaptive sports equipment rental, coaching education and athlete training.

The annual Angel City Games is the organization's signature event, and draws participants from across the country and around the world to participate in several adaptive sports clinics and competitions.

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Thanks Hanger for providing some photos from the event.

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Do you have other questions that you didn’t see answered here? Contact us at volunteer@angelcitysports.org and we will be happy to answer all of you questions.

"The 2019 Angel City Games, presented by The Hartford, is much more than just sports. It's about learning how to navigate the world to make the most of your abilities"

A huge shout out to all of our athletes+ their families, our staff, volunteers, coaches, officials, sponsors and spectators for making the 5th Annual Angel City Games presented by The Hartford an unforgettable experience!

BE AN ANGEL CITY GAMES VOLUNTEER Volunteers are the backbone of the Angel City Games, presented by The Hartford. They are all ages and their pledge of time and effort is heroic.

They are helping the vast number of adaptive athletes in Los Angeles and beyond thrive, and their support changes lives. Our volunteers are creating lifelong relationships and helping to build a wide yet close-knit and accepting community for adaptive athletes of all abilities and their families. They are trainers, mentors, organizers, and fans. They lift the heavy weight of the organization so our competitors can concentrate on their athletic role in the games.

If you’d like to be a part of the Games family and help us run our clinics, activities, events, and competitions then Volunteer is the role for you.

There are a range of duties that include but are not limited to: Setup and breakdown and organization of events, activities, competitions, stages, clinics, and tents, registration of volunteers, athletes, and fans, and so much more.

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2019 Awards Gala Master of Ceremonies, Mallory Weggemann, US Paralympian - Swimming (Photo Credit: TFA Group)

ANGEL CITY SPORTS AWARDS GALA

by Sean Harrison The 2nd annual Angel City Sports Awards Gala, presented by The Foundation for Global Sports Development, kicks off its 5th Annual Angel City Games weekend, celebrating our Adaptive Athletes, US Paralympians and the Adaptive Sports Movement as a whole. The Gala will be hosted by Two-time US Paralympian Mallory Weggemann (Gold & Bronze Paralympic Medalist, 2011 ESPN ESPY winner – Best Female Athlete with a Disability). We will be honoring the chairman of our Advisory Council, Ken Firtel, with the Angel Award; community leader, The Hartford Insurance Company — also the 2019 Angel City Games presenting sponsor — with the Impact Award for their influence on the Adaptive Sports Movement. This cocktail fundraiser with take place at UCLA’s Luskin Center Ballroom and will serve as the primary fundraiser for our organization.

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GREAT GAMES FAMILY COOKOUT The Angel City Games, presented by The Hartford, aims to build a real community for adaptive athletes and their families in Southern California. It's important to us that you not only have a chance to learn and compete in sports while at the games, but also to make new friends and meet as many new people as possible.

To that end, we’d love for you and your whole family to join us for our annual GREAT GAMES COOKOUT! Held on the field at the Experience Zone, after the Friday Track & Field clinic ends, it's going to be a big picnic style dinner where you can mix and mingle with the other athletes and the friends and family.

The event includes a full dinner with a mix of beverages, plus live entertainment from our Main Stage and other surprises.

Due to capacity at the Experience Zone, there are a limited number of tickets available. So please click the link below to get your tickets in advance.

Based on capacity, tickets may not be available at the gate that evening.

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AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE! The "Experience Zone" on the Intramural Field is where all guests are invited to try adaptive sports throughout the weekend in addition to a wide range of carnival activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Activities include: Wheelchair Basketball Adaptive Golf Table Tennis Rowing "My Gym" Obstacle Course Bouncy House Bruin Fan Alliance Sports Zone Art Station Carnival Games Sponsor Booths Entertainment and More!

Why "The Experience Zone?"

"The essence of sport intrinsically reflects inclusivity. Why? Because everyone can play. We don’t all play the same but that doesn’t matter what matters is that we can play and it’s critical to our growth as human beings to play together.

Sport has the power to shift narrow-mindedness to infinite possibilities." ~ Candace Cable - US Paralympian in 3 Sports, 12 Medals / Disability Advocate / Consultant for "Experience Zone".

We created the Experience Zone first and foremost for everyone to have FUN and PLAY! A place where socialization happens and connections are made. When we play together, empathy is created, and differences fade away.

We believe this is one way to break down stereotypes and biases. The Experience Zone is “Inclusion with Purpose” where differences are celebrated - Come One, Come All! At the Experience Zone you can responsibly attempt to play and navigate the mechanics of adaptive sports in a secure environment. After trying these activities for yourself at the Experience Zone, you can actually witness some of these competitive adaptive sports right here at the games.

By playing side by side and watching our athletes compete, we hope our spectators are energized and awakened to the transformative power of sport. Together we aspire to create allies and champions for ALL athletes!

Admission to the Experience Zone is FREE! Simply get a spectator pass for everyone in your party and you're all set! If you are an adaptive athlete, please register as an athlete.

Please contact Administrative and Outreach Coordinator, Stacy Schlesinger at stacy@angelcitysports.org with additional questions about the Experience Zone.

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Adaptive athletes and their parents will have the opportunity to expand their network, acquire mentors and advisors, and get resources and support to realize their full potential in sports and in life.

ATHLETE RESOURCE NIGHT This event is a special opportunity for adaptive athletes (12 and older) and their parents to expand their network, acquire mentors and advisors, and get resources and support to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Parents of younger children are welcome to attend. There will be activities for younger children (with a parent or guardian) nearby the conference room.

This high-impact event will consist of four tracks, Health & Wellness, Education, Employment, and Life Skills. 25+ thought leaders, corporate and government executives, and high-performance coaches will be brought together to provide athletes with intimate coaching and guidance on a wide variety of topics.

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The Angel City Games had several supporters and sponsors, including the U.S. Paralympics, SnapChat and Shamrock Capital. USA Track and Field also provides officials for competitions.

The LA84 Foundation also backs the registration fees for all athletes under the age of 17 who reside in Southern California. The Department of Veteran Affairs and Adaptive Sports USA allow athletes who are veterans to register for free.

Athletes throughout California and beyond have attended the Angel City Games. Last year, over 200 athletes took part of the clinics and competitions.

As the four-day event promotes physical activity, it also allows athletes access to various organizations and to fellowship with other communities.

Dave Ganas, Muji A. Karim and Lucy Walsh who sang the National Anthem at the Angel City Games at UCLA.

BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ADAPTIVE SPORTS

Athletes of various physical impairments and of all ages attend the Angel City Games where they are extolled for their efforts.

For more information about the Angel City Games, please go to http://www.angelcitygames.org/AthleteRegistration-and-Tickets.

The event continues to galvanize adaptive sports and those who participate in them.

Participants can learn how to compete in basketball, track and field, tennis, archery, and other sports. The Angel City games also provide resources to help people of diverse abilities.

The event can be a beacon for people with physical disabilities that don’t know anything about sports, that didn’t know that they can be physically active and live a healthy life after amputation or some type of disability.

Paralympic athletes have been attending the Angel City Games to not only mentor participants but to compete, creating an opportunity for fans to interact and take lessons from athletes they look up to.

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WHY YOU MAY BE DENIED 1. Billing mistakes or incomplete information This can be a result of your prosthetic facility submitting an erroneous minor claim. Call them up immediately to clarify if they missed some details or if it's an issue that can be resolved over the phone. If so, the good news is that they’ll only need to re-issue the claim. Make sure that the resubmission is done in a timely fashion and don't hesitate to follow up regularly. Timing is everything!

2. Treatment is not medically necessary You need proof that your medical provider believes that the recommended treatment is medically necessary; get a second opinion if needed. Make sure to ask your doctor or healthcare provider to have all the pertinent Recent history and physical examination (focus should be on the amputation, prosthesis, and ambulatory difficulties).

information and reasons you need the treatment are documented.

3. It's experimental treatment Computer legs or microprocessor knees used to

DOES YOUR DOCTOR KNOW HOW TO JUSTIFY YOUR PROSTHESIS?

be flagged as experimental treatments. These

by Sean Harrison

It's medically necessary and considered as

As an amputee, you need all the help & support you can get when navigating the world of insurance. Navigating through the tricky world of healthcare can be scary, frustrating and stressful.

We all know that prosthetics are not cheap and getting the right type of prosthetic for you can help you in a big way.

When a health insurer rejects your claims for coverage on certain types of prosthetic components, it can get quite frustrating and confusing, especially when you can not cover cost. Don't lose hope though, as you still have the chance to appeal a coverage denial and here’s how you can do that.

days, your insurance can cover experimental treatment if you or your prosthetist can ascertain the following:

standard procedure by the medical community It's the only type that will work for you—show them proof of other prosthetics you've tried and why they haven't been effective.

The type of prosthesis has been covered by the same plan for other patients with the same medical condition. Your prosthetist might have more information regarding this.

4. Out of network Get a pre-approval letter (one-time agreement) if your plan initially did not have access to a provider with the necessary specialty in-network, or if it took too long for you to acquire an innetwork provider. Again, make sure that you have the proper documentation for your condition so that you can justify why you couldn't afford to wait for in-network support.

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5. Your policy was cancelled for lack of payment, or your employer shifted insurance providers

Notes: Medicare wants to see chart notes reflecting the need for the care (e.g., treatment plan, history

If you failed to make a payment on time, there

and physical, operative report) from the patient’s

was a payroll error, or if you opened a new bank

medical records charted when the patient is

account and forgot to inform your insurer, simply

being seen (physician’s office, hospital, nursing

explain why it happened and again, provide

home, etc.).

documentation. Also state that you've been a

To be on the safe side, it is recommended that

member of the insurance for X amount of months

this information be collected up-front to be sure

or years, and that you've always paid on time. You

the physician’s documentation supports the

can ask your insurer to make an exception and

claim.

reinstate your health plan.

Each document must be signed and dated, and include the signee’s printed name and

Employers may also change insurance carriers,

credentials. We highly recommend that an

and if the last day of coverage under your

Attestation or Signature Log be included when

previous insurance company was right before the

responding to audit requests.

date of delivery, it can prove to be more challenging to overturn the denial. It helps to contact your HR department to know their

Electronic signature and date is only allowed on electronic documents.

All documents that support medical necessity

timeline as it pertains to changing health insurers must be signed and dated prior to the delivery so you can hold off on receiving prosthetic services.

date.

Each page/chart note must clearly identify the patient.

MEDICARE’S CRITERIA IN A NUTSHELL Medical necessity for prosthetic components or additions to the prosthesis is based on: 1. The patient’s past history [activities], 2. The patient’s current condition [residual limb and any medical conditions that might affect patient’s ability to use the new prosthesis], and 3. Desire to ambulate. [desire to use the new prosthesis and get back to those previous activities] A lower limb prosthesis is covered when: 4. Prescribed by a physician 5. The member will reach or maintain a defined functional state (K-Level) within a reasonable period of time, and 6. The member is motivated to ambulate Medicare requires that all 6 criteria be documented in the physician’s medical record. Following is a guide:

The amputation side should be clearly and consistently identified.

PHYSICIAN DOCUMENTATION: The following information must be included in the ordering physician’s medical records: Recent history and physical examination (focus should be on the amputation, prosthesis, and ambulatory difficulties). a. History of the Injury, Illness, or Condition Diagnosis/etiology of amputation(s) Date and affected side (s) Clinical course Therapeutic interventions and results Prognosis b. Physical Examination Height, weight, recent loss/gain Cognitive ability to use & care for new prosthesis Description of the residual limb ( e.g. local and/or phantom pain; wound healing issues; skin irritation, AMP 1 STUDIO | PAGE 13

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breakdown, infection; limb volume changes or swelling; weight fluctuations; muscle atrophy or contractures; osteoarthritis, or other arthritic conditions of the residual limb joint(s)).

Cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological, arm and leg strength, ROM, gait, balance, coordination

PLAN AHEAD Maximize your chances of successfully battling insurance denials by making sure your healthcare providers describes your condition in great detail. Some factors to consider are: Do you experience local and/or phantom pain?

Do you have wound healing issues?

Is your residual limb experiencing skin irritation, chafing, or infection?

amplifetalkradio.com

Does your residual limb have volume changes or swelling?

Did you ever experience muscle atrophy or osteoarthritis?

Information like gait, balance, coordination, and arm/leg strength should also be included Your prosthetic performance and its condition, as well as why it needs replacement (if applicable)Â Again, it's all about the paperwork! Ask your physician for a copy of your comprehensive evaluation and give your prosthetist a copy as well. Bear in mind that it's better to "over document" rather than to give bits and pieces of information. Make sure that your prosthetist has what they need before a claim is filed to help all parties save time and reduce back and forth.

Incomplete paperwork may result in delays so always supply them with as much information as you possibly can. The fewer questions the insurer has, the better!

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This page is dedicated to our partners who donated time, resources and services to help make this experience called Amp Life Talk Radio a reality. I greatly appreciate each and everyone of you. Â To become a partner please send inquiries to: media@amplifetalkradio.com

OUR PARTNERS

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