help with payments

I am on medicaid and I have been with this problem for a long time. Now my health is getting bad because of it. Please help with any knowlege of help with the payment. I am very desperate to get this surgery I have to take care of my grandson and it is getting very hard to even try and pick him up he is 15 months old. Thank you so much

Linda- I believe Dr. Cox in Ft Lauderdale accepts medicaid and you might want to check with Dr. Lord in Pensacola. He is new to Florida and just setting up his program (but he is a very experienced surgeon) so I imagine it is possible he might be accepting medicaid although I really have no idea. Red

Red, Linda lives in Tallahassee on Medicaid. She needs something in Tallahassee. Your suggestions are a bit far for her. Linda keep checking the boards here & most Surgeon's have their own or some financal programs that may help you http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/list-professionals.phtml Good Luck, Mike

Michael- I just put it out there. You never know when someone may have friends or family in a different city or when travel might not be that big of an issue. There are buses or trains or cars. But- from all that I have read on this board many times finding a surgeon that will accept medicaid can be a big issue. So like I said I just put it out there. If it is helpful that is great if not -- at least I tried to help. Red

Call you local hospital to see if they do WLS and if so, a list of surgeons. Just call each one and ask if they accept Medicaid as payment. Do you have a PCP? Explain your cir****tances. luvitsunnyv

Linda, Red had a wonderful suggestion, Dr. Cox in Ft. Lauderdale. My only exspenses were the motel, nutritionist fee ($50.00) and psych evaluation ($250.00). Took me a while to come up with it, but worth every penny!!! There is also a Dr. in Gainesville that was accepting medicaid, I'm not sure of his name?(Barry Haiken???) I'm sure some of our members can help you out with more surgeons who accept medicaid. It would be great if the new doc in Pensacola accepted it, that wouldn't be too far. Don't give up!!! Good Luck, Erika L

Linda, Currently I know of only 1 doc in Tallahassee performing gastric bypass (Dr. Sieloff) at Tallhassee Memorial Regional Medical Center. I don't know if he has a "payment" plan, but the only insurance that I know of that he takes is CHP. Dr. Ballerio is no longer practicing in Tally but I know he did take medicaid / medicare / voc rehab patients. I've heard there may be another doc who has sort of taken over Dr. Ballerio's practice, but don't know his name. If he took over for Dr. B then he does surgery at Capital Regional Medical Center (the old Tallahassee Community Hospital). You could call this hospital and ask if they have a practicing doc who does wls. Another doc (Dr. Croombs, I think) in the same practice with Dr. Sieloff will be performing Lapband sometime in the near future but I assume he would have the same insurance / payment rules as Dr. Sieloff. There is a WLS support group in Tallahassee and all are welcome! We are meeting tomorrow (Wed.) at 6:30 at Atlantis Club & Grill (2717 Mahan Dr.) We'd love to have you come! There may be someone at the meeting who could give you some suggestions on where to go and/or how to pay for surgery. If you're able to join us, please let me know and I'll add your name to the reservation list. Good luck in your search! I know it is hard, but it is well worth it in the long run! Vickie J.

Dr Cox in Ft Lauderdale and the Bariatric center in Gainsville is the only 2 that I know of that accept Medicade. Yes it is a drive to go to FT Lauderdale, especially if there is problems, But the Amtrack station is 11 miles from Northridge which is where alot of Dr Cox's patients are see. So a 20.00 taxi ride from the train station. Good luck finding one closer to hom. Kat

I hope you find the surgeon for which you are looking. Good luck. Red