Deschutes County prosecutor denied liver transplant

Dan Reesor, a prosecutor with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, was diagnosed with liver cancer earlier this year. His doctor told him without a liver transplant, he will die.

But a doctor for the county’s insurer, Employee Benefit Management Services, said the procedure, estimated to cost $1.4 million, was not “medically necessary” – and that’s sparked an intense lobbying effort by his family and friends to reverse that decision and, as a new Website proclaims, “Let Dan Live.”

When Reesor filed a claim with the insurance he gets through Deschutes County, which is self-insured, the company denied his claim.

According to the Website the county hired a doctor who stated that the liver transplant was not “medically necessary,” and in turn the insurance company denied his coverage.

Dan and his wife, Jo Reesor, have hired an attorney to appeal the decision. The appeal has been denied once, and the Reesors are in the process of appealing a second time.

Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday she cannot comment in detail on the matter, since it is covered by federal patient privacy and confidentiality laws.

But Baney added that the county is not responsible for the insurers’ decision. All the commissioners can do is help expedite the decision-making process.

“We are working diligently, behind the scenes, to do all that we can to expedite the process, and make sure that we’re doing what we can to meet the needs of really any individual that is on the Deschutes County health plan,” Baney said.

Family and friends say Reesor, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, is running out of time. His doctors said he should get on the liver transplant list right away.

The case has drawn much attention and calls for action including letters to county commissioners from the current and newly elected district attorneys, Patrick Flaherty and John Hummel..

In his letter, Flaherty wrote: “I and many others fear that we will lose Dan if Deschutes County does not act quickly and decisively.”

Hummel said in his letter to commissioners: “With respect and understanding, I urge you to take all steps necessary to achieve approval for Dan’s liver transplant. Please save his life.”

Tune in to NewsChannel 21 Wednesday evening for an interview with Dan Reesor about his situation.