NetSAP and Vibha thank you for your contributions

NetSAP Boston (Network of South Asian Professionals) organized a Happy Hour at Stix Restaurant & Lounge in Boston, MA on Jan 24th 2008 to raise funds for Vibha Boston, an alliance partner and a non-profit organization, whose mission is to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of the underprivileged child. Over 70 people turned up to network and start the New Year by supporting a cause.

NetSAP Boston raised over $350 through contributions from all attendees. All the proceeds were donated to Vibha. NetSAP Boston and Vibha convey their gratitude to all those who contributed at the event. These funds will be used by Vibha to provide financial support to projects that provide children with their right to education, health and opportunity. You can view learn more about Vibha at their website http://boston.vibha.org or via email at coordinator@boston.vibha.org.

More pictures from the event will be posted on the NetSAP Boston website. Also look forward to seeing more Happy Hours in 2008 associated with a cause or a theme. Again, we thank you for making the first happy hour successful. We look forward to seeing you at a future NetSAP Boston event.

Clarification on Health Insurance Issues from Bone Marrow Drive at NetSAP Gala

Dear NetSAP Members & Patrons,

Some health insurance expense issues from the Bone Marrow Drive at the NetSAP Gala were brought to our notice recently. There have been some instances where people who provided their insurance information on the forms have been billed large amounts by the lab which conducted the marrow tests. In a couple of cases the insurance companies paid the bills and passed on a part of the payment to the volunteers as patient responsibility. This is not supposed to happen. You are not responsible for ANY payments for this test.

The Marrow drive at the NetSAP Boston Gala was organized for Savita (www.savesavita.org) by the Caitlin Raymond International Registry (www.crir.org). Unlike SAMAR with whom NetSAP Boston has worked with in the past and where you participated in drives, CRIR has a different process because of local laws. Read more about the insurance process here
www.savesavita.org/insurancerelatedinformation

If you participated in the Bone Marrow Drive at the Gala on November 17th, 2007 please make sure your health insurance has not charged you. If you notice any expense, please call Caitlin Registry at 800-726-2824 immediately and speak to Kim Ikenberry or Joanne Raymond. Caitlin Registry has promised to work with affected donors to resolve this issue and get their health insurance expense reverted. Read more here...

If you are not satisfied with the service of CRIR or still have issues, contact Tushneem Dharmagadda, President NetSAP Boston at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org. NetSAP Boston will take up your issue with the registry.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you again for participating in the drive to save Savita at the NetSAP Gala.

Tushneem Dharmagadda
President, NetSAP Boston