Cancer Patient Fights For Treatment

A cancer patient is fighting to receive treatment.

Leo Miller, 64, has multiple myeloma, which is a complex cancer of the blood. He said figuring out how to get the stem cell transplant his doctor said he needs has become difficult.

"It's pretty tough, I'll tell you," Miller told KMBC's Jim Flink. "I'm waiting for word from a judge about my transplant -- I'm in a danger zone, really."

Miller said he already has stem cells frozen from his first transplant for multiple myeloma. But his second transplant has been denied.
A similar situation happened to Julia Slaven, who also has multiple myeloma. She picketed her insurance provider, Coventry. That same day, Slaven's appeal claim was accepted.

Miller also has Coventry Insurance, but it's through a Medicare plan. A Coventry representative said the company is only the administrator and that Medicare is rejecting Miller's claim as "experimental."

Dr. Christopher Sirridge, an oncologist at Kansas City Cancer Center North, said the decision is questionable.

"This is a patient who needs help. Bone marrow transplantation is not experimental for myeloma," Sirridge said.

He said it has been the standard of care for 20 years.

Miller has been waiting 60 days, and he said his condition is getting worse.

"I have a grandson -- he's 2 months old. I'd love to see him grow up, be able to play with him," Miller said.

Late Thursday afternoon, a judge overturned the Medicare decision to reject treating, so Miller will get his second stem cell transplant.

Coventry and Medicare both sent statements to KMBC explaining how the process works. Both statements are posted below.