Question about PCP letter

Went to Dr Richard and Dr Proctor's seminar on Wed. I am so pumped up for this ! Called my Dr. They are sending me a copy of my file. Also trying to see how I can come up with five years of weigh****chers records..if anyone has any suggestions on this, I would appreciate it. My question is this. Dr. Proctor's office gave me a list of some things that BCBS needs to approve. One is a physicians statement from my PCP. This statement says that I have undergone EKG, Chest Xray, etc. Do I wait until after I send my package of forms, and after my initial consult to get working on an EKG, etc? This board is so great. I spend at least an hour a day just reading messages and profiles. I have learned so much for you all.

May I suggest you talking to your PCP? BC/BS requires a letter from your PCP say that you are MEDICALLY CLEARED to have surgery. The letter has to state that exactly. Various PCP's have different tests they will want to do before they write that kind of letter. For example, my PCP had me do blood work, ekg, stress test and pulmonary function test. Which was great since I had those test out of the way for pre-op. I made a appointment with my PCP as soon as I made my decision to have WLS and discussed everything with them as well as finding out what needed to be done on their end to keep the ball rolling. God bless you on this journey, Theresa

Thanks so much Teresa I am going to set an appointment next week

Maureen, Hi! I am having my surgery through ObesitySolutions as well, and I also have BCBS. So...this is what I have been doing. I have my consultation scheduled for Sept. 1st. My first piece of advice...Send off the packet!!! They cannot call you without it, and it took me three weeks to get an appt. once they got it. So don't wait. Next, I too, got my records. Your PCP will appreciate your doing the work. I also got them from my gyn, and any other doctor I have seen in past five years. You will be surprised how many times you spoke with your doctors about weight loss, and how often they mentioned it to you. You know, lots of mine say...suggested low/calorie, low/fat, more exercise...or suggested Atkins...BINGO! There is your supervised diet! Go through all your files, highlight anything related to weight. Then write down anything you have done on your own...including exercise programs, like curves...put them in order by dates, and then fill out the diet section of the packet. Next...I went to my PCP and said, what tests do you want me to have done so you will clear me for surgery? He did the blood work that day (your thyroid profile), and an EKG. It was abnormal, so he sent me to a cardio.. I got a stress test and a echocardiogram. They were fine..and now I have those tests out of the way. If your BMI is over a certain amount..or if you snore, etc...Dr. Proctor will require you to have a sleep study. Hint....they will do it at ObesitySolutions, but their waiting list is long. I suggest you get your PCP to order one, and go to a local hospital. You cannot do your psyc eval on your own, they want you to wait to see Dr. Proctor. You can take care of many of the things yourself through your PCP, and your file will be completed sooner. Like you said, you have a list of what BCBS needs. I am waiting to get my PCP to write my letter until after my sleep test, so if I have apnea, it will be included on the letter. The bit about the letter of medical necessity, and the letter of medical clearance...it can be all in one letter, or in two. But, you must have both, no matter how it is written. I have a friend who did it in two letters, and one who did it in one letter. Both were approved. The reason I am waiting is because my PCP wouldn't clear me until I had the cardio stuff done. Some PCPs want lung xrays, etc.. You will probably have to have an endoscopy, but I am waiting on that to see Dr. Proctor. Good luck! I hope this helps. Feel free to email me, and I will keep you updated, since I am a little ahead of you and we are going to the same surgeon! Take care, Kathy

Thanks so much for the information ! Do I need to have the PCP letter in order to send off the packet? I have pretty much completed it, except I am waiting for a copy of my chart to get exact information about previous weight loss attempts. I am going to schedule an appt with my PCP, but can I send the packet off before then?

Hi Maureen, No, don't wait on the letter from your PCP. In fact, that is probably one of the last things you will get. If your PCP is like mine, he will wait to write it until the testing he wants you have to is completed, and he gets the reports. But, you may have to get an appt. to get referrals for the sleep study, and EKG. Some PCP's will require you to come in, some won't. Is your PCP aware you want the surgery? Is so, he/she may just order the test for you without your coming in, which would be nice! Save you some co-pays. I am almost done with all my pre-testing. My sleep study is next week. Once I get those results, I will make an appt. and go talk to him. He will sign my medical necessity letter and surgical clearance letter then. But, actually, come to think of it, like you said, you will want to go in to see him right away, to get your blood work done. Make sure they know you will need a thyroid profile BEFORE you go in, because you may have to fast to get the test. I was like you...I had to wait to get my records to go over my diet history. But, as soon as you do that..send in the packet. Don't wait on anything else! Take care, and good luck! Keep in touch and let me know how it is going! Kathy