HUGH DISAPOINTMENT!!!!!!

------well today ,after 5 1/2 days of the pre-surgery liquid diet,and 2 days before surgery,i recieved a phone call from dr.giovanni stating that i cannot have surgery right now because i have medicare insurance and they will not cover it unless its a hospital that is a "center of excellence" ?????? well,st.francis is not yet i guess,so my options are that i put myself on the back burner after all this liquid diet stuff and 2 days pre-surgery,and so many trials and tribulatons of the process or go to another surgeon whos practiceing hospital is a "center of excellence",i guess im not really into starting over so,i am going to go forward at danbury hospital,i have spoke to them today,does anyone have any good info on this hospital?the surgeons??the staff is already in my book pretty darn awesome,they were so understanding to my needs and made me feel great after crying all afternoon.i have alot of questions about this whole thing,i want to know how long st.francis surgeons office knew about this medicare issue,doesnt seem right to be told 2 days before surgery.any help out there? i feel totally confidant that danbury will be a good choice for me,but i still appreciate the imput..thanks...cyndee

Hey Cyndee. So sorry that you hit this bump in the road. With the way insurance coverages are changing all the time and the fact that in the fast paced world of medicine things sometimes get screwed up. Thank goodness you picked up the ball they dropped and are still heading toward your goal! I find that when these things happen to me I just consider them as "Test's". Sounds like you passed this one with flying colors! So Move ahead and Godspeed to your goal! Take Care, Julio

thanks so much julio,you always know how to make a person feel better dont you..i have an apt.at danbury on march 14,and they will except all my prior "convictions".so who knows maybe it will be soon anyways,the staff is great there too..again,,thanks,and god bless you julio..cyndee

Oh Cyndee - I am so very sorry, I can't even imagine how upset you are - I'm so glad to hear that you are going forward at Danbury. Dr. Barba told us at the support group meeting on the last Tuesday of the Month (2/28) that the hospital has a provisional center of excellence but not an approved one - or something like that, he also said there is a committee that a "new" requirement was established that a group of people have to physically come to the hospital but it's not a well established process - I'm so very sorry you got caught in the middle of bueracracy! It is unfortunate that all the medicare patients at the office were notified immmediately, but maybe they were hoping that their provision would suffice because it has for so long. It is a new rule that our lovely government has bestowed upon the medical community. It might be a great new rule, I don't know.........Any way - I would absolutely want to know a little more as to why you weren't informed until the final hour. I just so sorry, but as Julio said - you are doing a great thing by picking yourself up and going onward! You will get there - hang in there! Best Regards, Tammy Count Down: 6 hours!

Hey Cyndee, I am soooooo sorry to hear this and I don't blame you for being so disappointment but I am glad you are going forward at Danbury. Hope you will receive a letter to say approved before you start to get ready for this surgery. Don't give up and we all are rooting for you Like Nancy K went this. Hang in There! Hugs Kathy K

Also I heard alot of postives from Dr Timothy Ehrlich and maybe you can check into that place to see if they can cover your medicare insurance. it won't hurt to check on it Let me know your update post Hugs Kathy K

hi kathy,thank you as well for your wonderful support to me..i am going to danbury on march 14th and will see from there,keep your fingers crossed for me,,thanks so much,,god bless....cyndee

tammy,thank you for all your words and help!!! what are you doing on anyway,,shouldnt you be gettin skinny yet>>lol good luck to you today,,godspeed to you and god bless and keep you safe on your journey as well,i think danbury will be an correct choice..good luck today,love,cyndee

Cyndee ~ Understandably, you are upset. You have shown that you are proactive and will not give up. BRAVO In addition to what others have said to you already... remember this... YOU ARE IMPORTANT... Don't give up. Towanda

All I can say is I am sorry, have been there twice myself, I tried to have surgery in 2003 was stopped because they found I had diabetes and didn't want to proceed (After a year of waiting to get in to see him, all the tests and a week away from surgery). After a couple of years I decieded to try again, then I was referred by a doctor that was standing in for mine at the Navy Hospital and she didn't know that the Surgeon she referred me to is not covered by my insurance, so had to go to a third Surgeon. But it all worked out in the end. Just stay strong and it will happen for you. Blessings, Jennie