FIGHT MEDICARE'S RULING ABOUT HOSPITALS!!

According to the news and the PA at the surgeon's office where I *had* an appointment for next week, on February 21st the announcement was made that "Medicare would cover some procedures only at hospitals considered "centers for excellence" by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery." Hospitals were given no time to apply for certification from either organization. We ALL need to contact our federal congressmen and senators about this. The more he11 we raise, the more likely it is the rule will be reversed or revised. Here are some things to point out in your communication (preferably by phone): 1. There was no notice given for this ruling. Hospitals should have had time to apply for certification. 2. Obesity is a life-threatening disease and this ruling has dramatically reduced the facilities available to perform bariatric surgery for months to come. 3. Waivers ARE available and you should urge your politicians to push for a waiver for your particular hospital. Here's the list of US Senators. Just find yours and slam them with emails & phone calls: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Here's the list of Congressmen. Ditto above: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issuesaction/alertlist/?issue=30

Lisa, I have surgery scheduled Monday, 3/13, after a year of fighting, and I'm probably going to be canceled because of this ruling. My center is in the final stage of applying for this certification. Although I'm happy for Medicare's stand, some of us should be grandfathered. liz

the rule was set in place and they knew about it in nov. that it would be passed in feb. i feel that they should allow the patients who were pre approved but to be honest the drs and the hospitals and clinics knew it and maybe shouldn't have scheduled pts until they were certified. but, liz. i think that you probably have enought time to have the certification in place. we've been talking about this since it happened on feb. 25, i believe. it's really for everyone's good. the government wants the clinics and hospitals to have the correct equipment and supplies and help needed to deal with the morbidly obese.