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Published: 2012-07-06 17:47:00
Updated: 2012-07-06 23:19:17

Posted: July 6, 2012

Medicaid approved for Smithfield teen in a coma

Fred Lempe

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Fred Lempe
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Raleigh, N.C. — A Smithfield father fighting a Raleigh hospital to keep legal guardianship of his son has been able to secure Medicaid benefits to cover the teen's treatment for a traumatic brain injury.

Freddie Lempe, 18, has been in a coma at WakeMed since a car wreck in March 2011.

His father, Fred Lempe, says Medicaid coverage for his son was dropped in December when he turned 18.

The hospital has said that the teen was denied coverage because his father failed to file the paperwork.

It wants the court to appoint a guardian for Freddie who would be legally authorized to make all medical decisions.

Fred Lempe has said he's gotten conflicting information from the Johnston County Department of Social Services about what was required.

Calls and emails to WakeMed were not immediately returned Friday afternoon, and it's unclear whether the hospital will pursue its request in the court system.

A hearing is scheduled for July 25.

Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

17 Comments


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Latest Comments
For the latest update on Freddie go to his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/Pray4Freddie/posts/416971591678408
wdougherty2
July 10, 2012 12:43 p.m.
No reason for the father not to have the info he needs and get the papers in order, it is July not December.

Car accident, was he a passenger in another person's car or was he hit as pedestrian?
james27613
July 9, 2012 12:07 p.m.
In the midst of this tragic situation, it is good to see that the father has been able to secure Medicaid benefits to cover his son's treatment.
Click to view my profile westernwake1
July 6, 2012 7:51 p.m.
Good!
Click to view my profile whyalltheproblems
July 6, 2012 7:41 p.m.
How these illegals get it is beyond me,but they do,I have sat in the waiting room at my doctors office while they filled out paperwork to be seen,the girl had her card,yet explained she was not vacinated nor was the child,no form of documents required by the doctors office but admitted she was here illegally,how can that be,how did she obtain a medicaid card?
muggs
July 6, 2012 7:38 p.m.
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