...people who are so busy taking care of needy parents they are having trouble caring for themsleves.  Less than two weeks ago, we changed my mother's Medicare HMO to Caremore Touch, a program for the elderly already in Assisted Living facilities.  My mother moved in last Thursday (the 7th), met the Caremore Nurse Practioner on Friday (the 8th), and by Monday (the 11th), the lab people had already gone to her facility, drawn blood (I didn't have to take her anywhere), taken a urine sample, (I didn't have to drive THAT little bottle all over town all by myself), a prosthetics guy went to fit her for shoes (free because she has diabetes), the eye doctor's office called to schedule her for a diabetes eye check, and the program director...a doctor--and a new doctor to the program from Tucson--made a housecall to my mom's room and helped try to unravel her medication issues. 

Other than a regular Medicare charge, she pays nothing.  And I don't have to take her very many places.  For example, I will have to take her for the eye check, but they even bring in xray equipment in case someone falls at the facility.

If any of you--or your parents--are dealing with elderly relatives in facilities, give this insurance a look.  It appears that it is going to be a lifesaver for me and my sister...as we're pretty elderly ourselves...and weekly housecalls by her Nurse Practioner and monthly housecalls by her PCP will help catch stuff in the bud and keep us out of those horrid, germy, many-hours-long ER visits with an elderly relative who hardly understands where s/he is or what's going on.

Just thought I'd pass it on in the hopes that SOMEONE who is overwhelmed and running around and maybe afraid to have wls because they are so busy caring for Mom, might be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel with this kind of program.  (The Tucson doctor is one of the people at the Giffords shooting..I didn't know that until just now, in the middle of posting this, I googled his name.  Strange.)

thanks I did get alot of help from the cash/pay forum I finally was approved on March 15 and my surgery is in 2 days April 11. I am getting excited and nervous. I will let ya know how it goes. Bye Sharon

I had my DS done by Dr Husted and am very happy with it and him. He is very experienced. I would be happy to stay in contact with you thru your journey. Fee free to ask me anything. I am on here a lot and in the DS forum.

Jennifer, we meet this Saturday in the Sun City room.  Come up Litchfield to Olive, Olive to 111th, 111th to Peoria, Peoria to 103rd, turn left and go to Coggins, turn left and you're at the Sun City Room.  We meet at 10:30.  I hope to see you there if you can make it.

I had my RNY done on 9/27/02 with Dr. Juarez and lost 155 pounds. I felt that at the time he needed to step up his ability to spend more than 10 minutes in the office for a consultation, but then again, I think he expects us to have researched a bit on this already. He ended up being great, even in the hospital when the hospital (St. Luke's) was really horrible! Since I gained some weight back from poor eating habits now, I had go through behavioral therapy first, and I had a stretched stoma, but he is going to be doing a revision for me soon. I just have to get through Bridgeway's (AHCCCS) list of criteria, which I am almost done.