Christy Copeland says...

well, hopefully thst's correct because it's the same thing I was told. I am electing to continue the online thing anyway just in case. I am on week 6, so not much longer to go.

Brenda,

I saw that your message was left AFTER I spoke with her. So, I decided to call and talk to someone different to see what I would be told. The lady put me on hold, and told me that what you said was correct. I WOULDN'T have to do it since I had already started the online coaching. So, as tchrmom said, who actually knows????

I spoke with Christy Copeland today this afternoon as well and she confirmed that the 6 month support group meetings requirement would be waived if I had already started the online coaching.

Seems all of us calling and complaining actually helped.  Way to Go TEAM!

She told me the same today, too! I just got off the phone with her. YAY! Just did week 4 today. (Should have been week six, but I am going with the flow!) Hopefully, I will be able to submit by May 8 and have surgery around the first or second week in June!

I'm hoping and praying that it stays this way! I'm along the same schedule as you tchrmom. I should finish my 6-month diet on May 1st. Then I'll schedule my appointment with the surgeon at Emory. I've got to get on the ball and get my psych evaluation and nutrition visit done. I've also got to get my letter of medical necessity and a weight history. I hope to submit in May and have surgery in June, too. My birthday is June 13th, so I'm hoping this will be my birthday present this year!

I'm just waiting on the stupid online program!

I am going with Dr. Macik. I went to the Emory seminar, but the $600 program fee turned me off. I plan to go to support groups closer to my home, so I didn't want to pay that for nothing. I liked Dr. Macik when I met him, so I feel good about my decision.

Are you still doing the online coaching.. my understanding was that requirement no longer had to be met.  Am I wrong about this?

According to Christy, you DO have to do the online coaching if you don't do the support groups. You have to have started the coaching before they put in the support group requirements. And, you have to have had that initial call from the personal health coach.

You're right. The online coaching thing is not a requirement anymore, but I've decided to go ahead and fini**** JUST IN CASE they change their minds once again.

Ok, I just called her back to get clarification again.  I asked her "Do I still have to do the online coaching program or not".  She stated I do NOT have to complete the online coaching program if I had my initial telephone call with health assessor.