A Step Ahead: Prosthetic Limbs, Artificial Legs, Feet, Arms, Hands

We’ll be closing our doors here at 17 West John Street in September for a few days while we move into our new facility just around the corner. Our new address will be 132 Newbridge Road (which is Route 106), just south of the Hicksville train station.

If things go as planned, we will be making the switch on September 15, 16, and 17. During these three days, our office will be closed for client treatment. In addition, there is a possibility that on September 15, our phone service will be down for a few hours while the lines are switched over. Don’t fear – service will be up and running that same day, with our same number (516.681.3484).

Of course, if you have any prosthetic emergencies during that three-day period, call us. We will get back to you just as soon as we can, and make the appropriate arrangements to fix any problems.

2. Hard On Me

Appealing claims; fighting with insurance companies; researching prosthetics coverage; ah, the glamorous life of our Insurance Task Force here at A Step Ahead. You’d think it was easy, wouldn’t you? But it’s not. It’s hard. And that job can get harder at times.

For example, many insurance companies reimburse insureds directly when we file a claim for prosthetic work. Always included with such payment is an Explanation of Benefits form (“EOB”), which explains how the insurance company reimbursed the claim.

The EOB is the only way we can confirm whether your insurer has fulfilled its contractual obligations to you. Sometimes, however, we have difficulty obtaining the EOB, and there have been instances where the delay in getting this document has taken so long that the time to appeal mistaken or inappropriate denials runs out.

Please understand that if you receive payment directly from your insurance company, it is imperative that you forward the EOB to us immediately so that we can prevent this from happening. We thank you in advance for your cooperation with this request!

3. Hope You Like the New Me

That’s what Seamus Dougherty (BK) might be thinking. The answer is, “Of course we do!” Congratulations to Seamus on getting promoted to Patrol Sergeant in the New York City Police Department!

While Seamus ascends to new heights in the NYPD hierarchy, he acknowledges that his promotion may adversely impact his ability to hop on a bus with 15 minutes notice to Cleveland, toothbrush in pocket, to watch Celtic play Man U. (that’s soccer lingo). Yes, that actually happened. No, that probably was not something that directly led to his promotion. Great job, Seamus!

4. Walking the Long Miles Home

If you tried to become an elite triathlete without proper training, you’d be walking the long miles home to the finish line, your body bent, your spirit broken, your bike lying on the side of the road 20 miles back with a flat. Seeking to avoid this frightening scenario, Ray Viscome (BK) and Sarah Reinertsen (AK) were both recently named to the Paralympic Triathlon Development Committee.

These triathlon veterans will be lending their expertise and support to ensure that a new generation of triathletes can swim, run, and bike their way to the Paralympics. Congratulations to Ray and Sarah on this honor!

5. Crawl Back Under My Stone

Yes, that’s what we all reflexively want to do sometimes when the burdens of life weigh us down. However, resist that urge, emerge into the sunlight, and engage in one of the following: (1) an ASPIRE Running Clinic, under the direction of David Balsley, P.T.; (2) Wednesday Night Training in Central Park, again under the direction of David Balsley, P.T.; (3) the Y.N.C.A. Support group in Manhattan; and/or (4) the ASPIRE Support Group at the Hospital for Special Surgery. For more information about each of these life-affirming, stone-rejecting activities, visit the “Upcoming Events” portion of our website, which we update regularly.