Dr. in So Calif, Health Net HMO???

Hi all,

I'm currently half way through the stupid 6 month diet that my PCP's medical group requires before he'll even give me a referral.  I've filed an appeal with Health Net to have the rest of the stupid required diet waived but haven't heard back from them yet.

Does anyone have any experience with any Dr.s in SOUTHERN California, preferably the Inland Empire area?  I'd love to hear from anyone that has Health Net HMO also.  :O) 

Does anyone have any experience with Dr. Owens (Rancho Specialty Hospital)?  Do you know if he takes Health Net HMO?

Thanks!!  I hope everyone is having a great week!!!

Hi,

I am not from so cal but I have Health Net HMO.  The only requirements that I had were a psych and a nutritional evaluation.  But, I am having the RNY and I have diabetes, High Cholesterol, and Gerd.   This may or not be the reason I didn’t have to go through a 3-6 month class or supervised diet, I don’t know.

Hi!! Thanks for the reply!

The funny thing is that it's the Dr.'s medical group that is requiring this 6 month diet.  I sent a copy of the study done by Calif Dept of Managed Health Care that said the 6 month diet is completely ineffective and could be dangerous.  I also sent a copy to my Dr,'s medical group office and to Health Net so I'm hoping that Health Net will make the stupid medical group waive the rest of this "diet".  I have to co morbs and I’m healthy so I can’t really say anything about that.  :O(   arg.........

I hope they do. They only thing that my medical group would authorize was the evaluation with the Psych. All other authorizations or decisions had to go through HN directly.

Now that's interesting.... My PCP won't give me ANY information at all on who he will refer me to or anything until that 6 month diet is done.  I'd like to go to a seminar and find my own dr and have his office get authorization directly from HN....I wonder if it would work that way?

I don't know Dr Owens but my first seminar was at the Rancho Speciality Hospital with Dr Krahn. I instantly felt very comfortable with him.    I too have an HMO and from what I was told that hospital does not accept HMO's. Whether or not Dr Owens preforms at another facility I don't know..

I dont know if im the right person to advice since I just had my surgery on August 1 with Dr Krahn at St Bernardine's , San Bernardino ( he also preforms at Parkview, riverside) I had a complication but even so, I personally would recommend for you to at least meet with him and his staff.. I have nothing but good things to say about him and his staff...
I was also very worried about St B's but the nurses there were excellent aand my room was very comfortable... ( all private rooms)

If interested Dr Krahn has a seminar every month at St B's. Let me know if you'd like the info.. I'd gladly share with you..

Best of luck to you on your journey :)

Kellie

I'd love information on Dr. Krahn!  I'd love to find my dr. now and see if I can just "go around" my PCP's 6 month diet.  I'm hoping that Health Net will make them waive the stupid diet.  Oh, does Dr Krahn perform the Sleeve??

OK here is the 911 and also my 2 cents.  First of all the 6 month should not consist of just a diet.  It shoud also consist of education.  I know that I will get flammed for this but I do not  really care.  I have seen this time after time the ones educated really do better.  This is an elective surgery and as much as all of us want it to be an urgent thing it is not.  THe best best thing is in the 6 months is to educate yourself.  No matter how much you think that you are educated about gastric bypass there is always something else.  I see it day in and day out.  Secondly contact health net and tell them who your medical group is and have them tell you who the group is contracted with. You can also call the medical group and find out.
So, I hope that I did not offend you but it is truly what I know.  I have been flamed before for my opinion on this subject please do not take it the wrong way.  I just really do know what I am telling.  I wish you the best in your journey
Liz

Thanks Liz!
I totally agree with you.  I've been doing research nonstop for the past 3 months.  The stupid "diet" that my dr.'s medical group is making me do is a totally generic 1,800 calorie diet.  Like I haven’t done THAT before….I go twice a month for one hr and listen to a nutritionist read over a handout that she passes out at the beginning of the class, then I get weighted and it's recorded. Over the years I’ve done SO much research on nutrition that I probably know more than she does…..The only thing she talks about is generic nutritional information and last time she covered exercising. 

Nothing has ever been said about anything remotely related to weight loss surgeries so all the info I have is through my own research.  Since this required diet is for pre op WLS patients you'd think that there would be some kind of info on actual WLS and post op nutrition and issues.....nope......I’m just SOOO glad that I found this sight!

One good thing about this forced diet is that I first wanted the Lap Band but after doing research I decided that,  FOR ME, it wouldn't be the best procedure.  So if I would have been approved quickly I would have had the Band and now would be sorry.  So I've used the last 3 months to good use at least.  :O)

For everyone that has already had your WLS, was there any pre op requirements that the dr.s had??  I know there will be a psy evaluation and probably some blood tests, but will I be made to go through yet another "diet"?  I've heard some dr.s might require that I lose 10% of my weight?  Is this correct? If my math is correct (which there is a HIGH probability that it’s not  lol) that’s about 26 pounds, that’s not too bad I guess, but that would delay my surgery for at least another 2 months……I’ve lost 7 pounds so far on this “diet”…I wonder if that would count?

Thanks again everyone for your answers!  :O)

Hey there!

I have Health Net PPO and hope to GOD they don't make me do that!  I just had my Nut & Psych on Monday and am awaiting approval from HN.  I already have my surgery date too, which is ass-backwards if you ask me, lol

I wish you luck and I'm sorry you have to do that, I'd be mad too!  :)

I'm having mine done at USC.