Complaint Review: Helen Foundation - Nationwide

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 10033979, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. Here are the reasons why I and my husband are rejecting this response:

1) The primary reason for rejecting this response is that your assertions that my husband's Parkinson's Disease, had been arrested, was simply untrue

2) The method of quantifying any improvement or increase in his Parkinson's symptoms was very difficult to compute, and my husband felt very disillusioned of the treatment. 

3 )He also feels that notwithstanding the rules concerning refunds he signed, it is assumed that the treatment has been planned, experimented, and implemented correctly, according to the patient's needs. 

4) The medical exam was perfunctory at best. It could have been done on the telephone. 

5) The Food Allergy test results were not received until well into the 2nd month, which made a mockery of the implementation.

Therefore, we are requesting a refund IN FULL.

Maria Woodward (and Stephen Charles Woodward)

To Better Business Bureau:

We received the response from Helen Foundation (enclosed below) via BBB and this was our response .

We have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 10033979, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve our complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. Here are the reasons why we are rejecting this response:

1) The primary reason for rejecting this response is that your assertions that my husband's Parkinson's Disease, had been arrested, was simply untrue.

2) The method of quantifying any improvement or increase in his Parkinson's symptoms was very difficult to compute, and my husband felt very disillusioned of the treatment. 

3 )He also feels that notwithstanding the rules concerning refunds he signed, it is assumed that the treatment has been planned, experimented, and implemented correctly, according to the specific patient's needs. 

4) The medical exam was perfunctory at best. It could have been done on the telephone. 

5) The Food Allergy test results were not received until well into the 2nd month, which made a mockery of the implementation.





Therefore, we are requesting a refund IN FULL.

Signed by (Patient) with (Spouse and Caregiver)

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RESPONSE FROM HELEN FOUNDATION

The contract was signed on November 20, 2013, for Mr. Woodward to use Microdose Therapytm for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. 

Microdose Therapytm is patient self-administration of cortisol with concurrent stress, infection, allergy and injury minimization that complies with United States Food and Drug Administration-recommended indications, dosages and administration for cortisol use.  Its success is dependent upon the quality of patient education.

Mr. Woodward began Microdose Therapytm December 15, 2013.  Thirty two days later on January 16, 2014, his clinical results were:

Parkinson’s disease symptom improvement (patient evaluation): 18%

Brain function improvement (patient evaluation): 30%

Conclusions:  Mr. Woodward’s Parkinson’s disease was arrested and symptom improvement had begun.  Levodopa, the standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease, averages 7 to 20% symptom improvement for Parkinson’s disease symptom improvement and 0% for brain function improvement.

After January 16, 2014, patient refused to cooperate further to supply his required digital input data for patient monitoring and education.  When this occurs, the Arizona-located Helen Foundation nurse educator becomes blinded about the progress the Florida-located client is making and compliance to education training is difficult or impossible to measure.  The nurse educator tried to compensate by more frequent contact. 

The Helen Foundation nurse educator contacted Mr. Woodward on 1/19; 1/20; voice message 1/27; emailed client 1/30; 2/2 voice contact; 2/9 voice contact; 2/12 voice contact; 2/14 voice mail; 2/16 voice contact; 2/18 voice contact with attending physician; 2/21 voice mail; 2/26 voice contact; 3/4 voice contact; 3/11 voice message; 2/13 voice contact; 4/4 attempted contact; 4/8 attending physician conversation; 4/9 voice contact 4/22 voice message.

Mr. Woodward voluntarily withdrew on 4/24/2014 (email).  This invokes the provision of the last sentence of the signed contract for service under the provision for ‘Voluntary Withdrawal’.  “If I withdraw after beginning Maintenance Education there will be no refund of any kind.” 

Mr. Woodward had been provided nearly all of the Helen Foundation promised services and was making satisfactory progress in symptom relief for Parkinson’s disease.    He became uncooperative during January, 2014; this hampered patient education and disallowed further quantitative evaluation of further progress. 

The signed contract states there is no guarantee; see Microdose Therapytm Contract copy in the attachment.

Sincerely,

Virgil I. Stenberg

President

Attachment:  Microdose Therapytm Contract copy

Medical Disqualification:  I further understand that if the HFC supervising physician performing the qualifying examination disqualifies me from entering into the HFC Program, I will be refunded what I have paid less the cost of Phase 1 digital tracking system ($995) and the cost of the qualifying medical examination ($250) and the food allergy test ($900) if done.  If I withdraw due to HFC supervising physician’s medical disqualification after beginning the Phase 1 Shower, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995), the cost of the qualifying medical exam ($250), the cost of medical exam #2 and #3 ($100 each), if done, and the cost of the food allergy laboratory test ($900) and the cost of the Shower ($2,900).   If I withdraw after starting Maintenance Education there will be no refund of any kind.  Please note, all transaction processing fees are non-refundable.

Voluntary Withdrawal:  If I withdraw before having the qualifying medical examination, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995).  If I withdraw after having the qualifying medical exam, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995) and the cost of the qualifying medical examination ($250) and the food allergy laboratory test ($900) if done.  If I withdraw after beginning the Shower, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995), the cost of the qualifying medical exam ($250) and the cost of the food allergy laboratory test ($900) and the cost of the Shower ($2,900).  If I withdraw after starting the Maintenance Education there will be no refund of any kind.

Medical Insurance:  I further understand HFC does not file medical insurance claims for me or provide insurance billing codes.  HFC has opted out of being a Medicare/Medicaid provider.

I have read this contract, am aware of the risks of participating in the Microdose Therapy program, understand that the results are not guaranteed and agree to enroll into the Microdose Therapy program. 

Furthermore, I agree to hold HFC Limited LLC and Helen Foundation free of any liability pertaining to the execution and administration of the Microdose Therapy program.  All transaction processing fees are non-refundable.

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