Lisa Berry Blackstock

CPCC
Soul Sherpa (R) Healthcare Advocacy
Lisa
legacy member

Lisa Berry Blackstock

CPCC
Soul Sherpa (R) Healthcare Advocacy
Advocate Location
Agoura , CA 91301
Specialty
Medical Guidance
Other Services
Insurance & Billing
(818) 696-5999
TeleAdvocacy Option Unknown
Consultation Fees Unknown
Email Advocate
*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
I provide nationwide, 24/7 patient advocacy assistance relating to all aspects of healthcare advocacy. Experienced in understanding the ever-changing business and political forces affecting healthcare, I implement effective strategies for my clients in each one's unique situation (diagnoses, medical procedures, hospitalization, discharge oversight, private insurance and Medicare appeals, medical billing negotiation, analysis and selection of healthcare coverages, advanced healthcare planning, and end-of-life palliative care support.) My strength is my thousands of hours of experience in the trenches with my clients. My services began as a courtesy adjunct benefit to my estate clients in 1990. After experiencing my own misdiagnosis, subsequent corrective brain surgery for trigeminal neuralgia, and successful medical insurance appeal for denial of my neurosurgeon's services, I became a full-time patient advocate in 2008.
Important Information About Me
  • I am insured
  • My geographical area of practice is Los Angeles based with nationwide clientele
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
The sudden onset of experiencing electrical shocks on the left side of my face in 2007 led to five unnecessary root canals and removal of a permanent tooth. In 2008, in chronic pain and acute distress, I sought a third opinion at UCLA's Orofacial Pain Clinic located within the UCLA School of Dentistry. Desperate and broken, I was immediately diagnosed with a rare cranial nerve disorder called Trigeminal Neuralgia (aka the Suicide Disease) which required corrective brain surgery to separate my left trigeminal nerve at my brain stem from a compressing artery that caused my nerve's protective coating (myelin sheath) to wear away. This resulted in electrical shocks, burning, aching, and shooting pain on the left side of my face that proved debilitating. With a correct diagnosis a proper plan of care was recommended (brain surgery, specifically microvascular decompression of my left trigeminal nerve.) My medical insurer denied services for my neurosurgeon, which I successfully appealed several months later in 2008. My neurosurgeon noted I was the only patient he ever had who won an insurance appeal and asked if I would assist his other patients. This is when I began to practice full-time as a patient advocate. No one should have to endure chronic pain due to misdiagnosis, or be denied insurance coverage for medically necessary care.
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Formal Education
Stanford University, Communication/Political Science, 1982
Additional Skills
I am a tireless advocate who understands how our current healthcare system has reduced the autonomy of physicians and other healthcare provides, resulting in less thorough care, unregulated healthcare prices, and narrowing insurance coverage benefits, all at a greater cost to patients. Given my understanding of the legal ramifications of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, I recognize the power hospital administrators and top medical insurance executives wield at the expense of patients. I have great empathy and compassion for vulnerable, frightened patients and their loved ones during a medical crisis, and serve as a buffer to protect them while keeping them fully informed. I understand chronic pain and the often resulting depression and anxiety that pain causes. As a certified palliative care counselor, I am trained in understanding and respecting the multitude of cultural and religious beliefs embraced by patients from all over the world.