Angel MedFlight Battles Insurance Company for Accident Victim

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A summer vacation was
tragically cut short for a Massachusetts man visiting Newport Beach, California.
While bodysurfing on September 17, Steve Baker*, 25, was violently struck down
by a wave. Baker was thrown to the ocean floor, crushing his C1-C2 vertebrae,
leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.

Upon receiving news of the accident, his entire family was devastated. The once
robust Baker must now blink his eyes to communicate and relies on a ventilator
to breathe. He will most likely require treatment, care and therapy for the rest
of his life. Following a spinal surgery on September 21, Baker's family
contacted his insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, to
schedule an air medical flight to transfer Baker to Boston Medical Center (BMC).
BMC features The New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center, one of only 14
federally funded National Model Systems Centers in the country. The hospital is
located just 25 miles from Baker's home in Massachusetts.

"Blue Cross did not deny coverage but dragged its feet in response to the
family's request despite federal law requiring health insurance companies to
respond to emergency transportation requests within 48 hours," said Michael
Ward, staff counsel at Angel MedFlight.

Unable to secure a definitive answer from Blue Cross, on September 24, the
frustrated family contacted Angel MedFlight, an Arizona-based air ambulance
service that provides worldwide air medical transportation. Jeremy Freer, Angel
MedFlight's CEO, immediately took action. He reviewed Baker's insurance
certificate of coverage and determined that it included air medical transfers
when warranted. Freer conducted medical research, conferred with Maguire's
attending physician and surgeon, as well as the staff attorneys and physician at
Angel MedFlight, then submitted a letter to Blue Cross on behalf of Baker. Freer
went on to contact the patient's primary care physician to coordinate the
transfer and to discuss in-flight procedures and treatment.

"I don't know all of the work that Jeremy did for us, but I know he tried his
hardest to get the flight approved," explained Baker's father, Tom. "We just
wanted to get Steve back to Boston so he could get the care he needs and be
close to all of us."

The Angel MedFlight staff continued to contact Blue Cross, providing all of the
necessary documentation to expedite the approval process. Ten days after the
initial request, Blue Cross finally authorized Maguire's flight to return to
Massachusetts for care. Ironically, Angel MedFlight, the organization that was
so instrumental in securing approval for the flight, was precluded by Blue Cross
from transporting Baker. Blue Cross disregarded Baker's request to use Angel
MedFlight and, instead, selected some other air ambulance provider.

"We were disappointed that Angel MedFlight wasn't allowed to fly Steve to
Massachusetts," stated Tom Baker.

"We're not surprised that Blue Cross prevented us from conducting the flight,"
said Freer. "We are first and foremost a patient advocate and Blue Cross has no
interest in benefitting a company that fights as hard as we do for our clients.
We are very pleased that Steve will be able to receive treatment at Boston
Medical and we are calling this a major success. Our entire staff was moved by
his tragedy and we were determined to assist knowing that we might not receive a
penny. Sure, we're a little disappointed that Blue Cross prevented us from
conducting the flight so that we could have assured quality care throughout the
flight, but we are thankful that our persistence paid off and that Blue Cross
was required to cover Steve's flight home."

* The patient's name has been changed to protect his privacy.

About Angel MedFlight: Angel MedFlight is a full service provider of medical air
and ground transport. Our mission includes providing excellence in the air and
ground ambulance industry. We use only the best aircraft, equipment and
personnel. We deliver on our promises, and we go to great lengths to make
patient transport as smooth, comfortable, and worry-free as possible.

The Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6276

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CONTACT: Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services
Kim Halloran, Director of Business Development
877-264-3570
khalloran@angelmedflight.com
http://www.angelmedflight.com/