Ga Medicaid/WellCare Issues...Help PLZ!

I live in Waycross, Ga. Back in February I was dx w/ CHF. My PCP advised me to get some type of Bariatric surgery. I'm 363# @ 5'6" and 40 yrs old. Back in May I called WellCare and asked them if they would pay for this type of surgery and they told me 3 different times that as long as the dr. showed that it was a neccessity that they would. Well the only dr. she knew of in S.E. Ga. that accepts/accepted Medicaid per say is Dr. Henderson. So my PCP "referred" me to him. He is about 1 hour away from me. I had my first visit and was told that since Medicaid had went to these HMO types of plans that he had stopped taking it, but considering the health issues that was going on with me that he would do the "sleeve" on me. I didn't get an option, just the sleeve. I was also told I would need to go ahead and pay the $1,200.00 for "program fees" and go ahead with the nutritional, pychological and weekend siminar. I didn't have the money and my son that is in the Army sent me the money to get it all done with. Everything was completed within a few days. All of this was submitted to WellCare, and they denied me. Saying that Dr. Henderson was not in their "network". But I had been "referred" by my PCP. One of the ladies in the office called them and told them that I had been referred to him because there are no other surgeons in S.E. Ga. that would accept the insurance for this type of procedure.They told her that they would send a list of things that I needed to complete before they could make a decision. On this list it said, "a 6 month doctor followed diet" among other things. I went to my PCP and me and her got together on this and figured out how we were to go about getting all these things done in a timely manner. About 2 weeks later they sent ME a letter that said, "a 12 month doctor followed diet". And that they needed to speak to my doctor within 3 days of me recieving this letter. So when my PCP called WellCare to find out which they needed a 6 mo. or a 12 mo. followed diet, they said they would not talk to her about me, because she is a Nurse Practioner. I called them and tried to tell them that she's been my doctor for over 10 years and no one knows me like she does. They pay her to see me and order anything that needs to be done on me so why wouldn't they speak to her about me!! They would not speak to ME about ME!!! They said it was a HIPPA thing. I told them that I'm a nurse and that YES you can talk to ME about ME!!! But they refused!!! Can you believe that?! Anyway, my question is has anyone ever heard of such before??? I knew going into this that it would be hard to get them to pay for this but still, there are people that I know that have this type of insurance and have had it done, so I know it maybe hard but not impossible. I can't start over with a new doctor! My PCP says that she works under another REAL doctor and that she didn't appreciate them be-littling her like that, that she's going to write an appeal and have her boss to co-sign it with her to try to get these fools to talk to her about me. They said in this letter that they have "in-network" doctors. But they sent me this book that only has gastrointestinal doctors not bariatric surgeons!! I just don't know where they are coming from and what in the world they want!! I need some advise, any kind from anybody.......I've already invested the $1,200.00 in this particular doctor and I think he would do a good job (although the only option with him is the sleeve). My son is at wits end, he doesn't have any more money to send me for another surgeons "program fees", and I don't want to lose his money. Can anybody out there help me???????????

Deb I just wanted to say hi and that I a native of Waycross, left in 92. When I lived in Waycross I also worked at the hospital as a nurse. My last position there was in L&D. If you don't mind would you please PM me I think that I may know some one that could help you.