Frank Pallone: “This is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes overactive and attacks the protein which adheres…”

“This is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes overactive and attacks the protein which adheres to the top layer of skin to the body. Her parents had to battle with their HMO to insist upon appropriate diagnosis and medical care. According to Donald Tenconi, Francesca's father, her medical insurance ordeal began in December 1995 when, at the age of 11, she developed what was diagnosed as a skin rash. By March, the condition had spread and become worse. By late April, the condition was so bad she could not attend school. During this period, several requests were made for referrals to specialists outside the HMO, and these were all denied. Finally, on May 8, 1996, almost 6 months after the first appearance of symptoms, the HMO sent biopsies to out-of-network doctors and finally obtained an accurate diagnosis. Even after receiving the diagnosis, the Tenconis' HMO still insisted on treating the disease primarily with its own doctors, in-network doctors. It was not until February of 1997, over 1 year after the symptoms first appeared, that the HMO finally agreed to allow Francesca to receive care at Stanford Medical Center, which possessed the doctors capable of providing the best care available in the San Francisco Bay area.”