I may not get approval...Medicaid

I just came back from yet another pre-op appointment. Actually 2 of them. I had a mammogram and then went to the gastro where I got a date for an endoscopy and colonoscopy. The gastro doc here in Palm Beach County told me he doubts very much that Medicaid will cover me in Dade County. Wouldn't Dr. Byer's office realize that is the case before they even start with me? They know where I live etc; and I know they deal with Medicaid. I waited over 2 years for that initial appointment. I'm sure they don't just dangle the carrot in front of the patient... Has anyone here that has Medicaid gone out of county for the consultataion and work ups and either been approved or not based on where you live for the surgery? I have so many more pre-op appointments in Miami; that if that is the case I can't see the need of continuing to go. The doctor's office is closed for Good Friday...so I will talk to them on Monday...but I don't want to hear...well, it might work....or it might not.. Input please. Thanks so much! Worried Andrea

Andrea- I am no expert. But why would the county matter at all. Medicaid is a STATE program. For example, I have seen posts on this board from people who have traveled from all over the state down to Dr. Cox in Ft. Lauderdale for the surgery. I really do not think it will matter. Unless you have some sort of coverage that is funded or supplemented by Dade County and not strictly medicaid. Just my 2cents. Good luck.

Thanks for your response... That was my way of thinking also. I think the doctor was mistaken...because your right it is a State program. Going through the pre-op process is so angst provoking and almost anything negative said will really put me through the wringer...

By the way -- my best friend in the whole world had wls surgery about almost two years ago and Byers did his surgery. He has had nothing but good things to say about her and the program. So I feel confident in saying you are in good hands.

Is he a member here...there are hardly any Byers patients on here...or at least responsive to e-mails. I am going to ask her if she has a mailing list so maybe we can get more patients coming to her meetings or at least active on this site.

No -- he is not a member on here. I have spoken to him about it and he is not interested.

I would be very surprised and very disappointed if a doctor released a mailing list of their patients. Wouldn't that be a violation of patient confidentiality? I would not want my doctor releasing my name to anyone or any organization without my permission.

They would not be asked to realease the mailing list just to send something out themselves. For example, Dr. Byers office sending out a news letter with informative health articles and a current list of when her support and therapy meetings are being held. Right now it seems the only people who go to the meetings are those who HAVE to and once they go to their 1 or 2 and get their attendance sheet signed you never see them again. So at support meetings it's all pre-ops and not many post-ops to share their experiences, and at the therapy it's mostly people 6 weeks out, because that's when they HAVE to go. I think it would be beneficial if her office was able to coordinate this aspect of the program better and I was going to make some suggestions to her. Not trying to violate anyone's HIPPA rights or anything.

Red Haired at 11:48 PM on Friday, March 25, 2005 EST: By the way -- my best friend in the whole world had wls surgery about almost two years ago and Byers did his surgery. He has had nothing but good things to say about her and the program. So I feel confident in saying you are in good hands. That is so good to hear! After my knee replacement my physical therapist told me one of her patients used Byers and had wonderful success! I hope that I will too.

I know of Medicaid patients having surgeried in counties other than where they live here in Florida. I did the same in Ohio, was 2 hours from home.