Spokane man gets liver transplant

Fred Watley received a liver transplant Wednesday morning after overcoming insurance hurdles and failing health.

Surgeons at University of Washington Medical Center were pleased as 59-year-old Watley responded well to the life-saving operation, said Watley’s wife, LiAnne.

“We’re very grateful,” she said.

Watley nearly missed his chance for the transplant – expected to extend his life another 20 years – because of a controversial insurance practice that excludes organ transplant coverage for at least six months when employers change carriers.

Watley has worked as a counselor for 11 years at The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, a collaboration of Northwest tribes combating teen alcohol and drug abuse.

When his employer switched health insurance carriers last January – from Asuris Northwest Health to Group Health Cooperative – the coverage probation coincided with Watley’s deteriorating health.

After two insurance appeals were denied and the Watleys went public with their ordeal, Group Health CEO Scott Armstrong overrode the policy and authorized coverage.

Armstrong also pledged to work with state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to close the coverage-exclusion loophole.

Insurers use the probationary periods to guard against hidden or unexpected costs when they take over accounts as a new carrier.

Watley was caught in the middle: His medical case and four years on the liver transplant waiting list were well documented, said family attorney Brian Sheldon, of Spokane.

As Armstrong said last week, “This is a person who had ongoing coverage and expected care. He had health insurance through his employer, and through no fault of his own, or of his employer, he was snagged by this transplant wait period.”

That was a week ago. At 10 p.m. Tuesday surgeons told the Watleys a liver was available. Six hours later Watley was taken to the surgery unit. By 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, he had a new liver functioning in his body.

LiAnne Watley expected her husband to regain consciousness as early as today.

“The surgeons are thrilled with the results, and I’m so grateful to everyone involved,” she said from Seattle on Wednesday afternoon. “A miracle has happened.”