TINA LONG

Tina first heard about cystic fibrosis through her friend Eric Kast, a cystic fibrosis patient, in their 9th grade history class. Through their conversations she found out her friend (since 1978), Pati Richardson, RN, was his nurse! Between the two of them, over the years she learned more about the disease.

 

In 1996 American HomePatient (AHP) opened their Tulsa branch. Pati encouraged the "powers that be" to hire Tina to work in the billing center as an insurance collector, something Tina had done since 1990.

 

During her service at AHP, Tina learned the "how to's" of durable medical equipment billing and collecting. It also gave her the opportunity to meet some of the patients Pati had talked about for so many years and for whom Tina was doing the billing. Tina also got to know the pharmacists on staff, Linda Jenson and Becky Irvin.

 

When Linda opened CF Solutions in 1998 she asked Tina to be her insurance biller/collector. Tina felt the timing just wasn't right and declined, but still helped out with numerous CF functions that needed a photographer! About two years later, Pati called Tina and said, "We really need you!" This time, the timing was perfect and two weeks later, Tina became an official member of the CF Solutions family.

 

Tina is known as a tenacious bull dog when it comes to her job. "I get the greatest satisfaction out of getting a claim paid – especially when the insurance company fights me tooth and nail! It's important to me to be able to tell the patient and/or parents that when they receive a denial in the mail that they don't have to worry about anything – I'll take care of it."

 

Tina is the proud mother of five cats, Raven, Beaker, Gizmo, Rascal and Tabi and a huge Bugs Bunny fan.