July 8, 2020: My Name is Patrick Durkin. I am 66 years old and a retired special agent with the US government. I was injured 11 years ago from a wave hitting me at the beach in Ocean City, MD. The injury resulted in permanent spinal cord damage causing me to become quadriplegic. I am unable to move anything below my shoulders, and I am ventilator dependent. I am single and have no family member caring for me at home. Because my medical needs are so complex, I must be cared for by a skilled nurse 24 hours per day. All daily activities of living must be performed for me, and my medical needs must be met.

I have been living in an apartment for the last 11 years after being released from the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA. My daily needs and medical care requirements have been fully met by in-home care from Samaritan’s Way Nursing. Due to their excellent care and diligent monitoring of my health around the clock, I have remained healthy and required hospitalization only three times in the past 11 years. My nurses have enabled me to live independently and to be a happy and productive person, not withstanding my severe disability. For instance, I have mentored others with severe spinal cord injuries through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

I was financially able to handle the costs of this care until my insurance coverage from CareFirst was terminated, effective December 31, 2019, because of my eligibility for Medicare coverage at that time. I currently have Medicare Parts A and B, as well as a Medicare Supplement plan, but they have denied coverage for my nursing care at home because I require more than temporary or intermittent nursing care. As a result of the loss of insurance coverage, I have depleted my personal funds trying to pay my nurses.

Without coverage of my in-home care, I will have no one to care for me and will be unable to remain at home. I will end up in a State facility where I will not receive adequate care for my complex medical conditions. I will most certainly develop infections requiring many hospitalizations and possibly ending in death. I am a very high-risk candidate as a ventilator dependent person for contracting COVID-19, which is currently widespread in facilities. My physicians have also expressed that leaving my home care will result in disastrous outcomes.

I am asking you to consider whether you can provide me with any financial assistance while I pursue an appeal of the denial of insurance coverage. I know that this is a matter of life and death for me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I will be forever grateful to you for any assistance you are able to provide to me.