I have Amerigroup and for some reason they are now saying that 6 month supervised weight loss visits are now required. I was denied the first time because I didn't have documentation showing the 6 months. Month later I was denied again with documentation showing the 6 month supervision. Any idea why and what I can do?

GA Medicaid and all its replacements do cover bariatric surgery, if found medically necessary. I work in a bariatric surgery office (I do all the insurance precerts). Some offices accept some forms of medicaid and not others. For example, my office, also in Savannah, does not accept GA Medicaid, but accepts Wellcare medicaid and Amerigroup Medicaid. Of the two, I find Amerigroup easier and quicker to obtain approvals for surgery. There are some out of pocket costs associated with our program that is not covered by the insurance, but we have found them necessary for success. Wellcare Medicaid requires a 6 month diet and exercise program that you attend monthly with your primary care physician or another provider other than the bariatric surgeon. Amerigroup does not have this requirement, but wants a detailed documentation of what you have tried to do in the past for weight loss. They do both require a psychological evaluation and clearance. They also want to see that you have had all your questions answered and that you have a plan for after surgery for followup and support. We have experienced some difficulty in getting both Amerigroup and Wellcare to pay for the psychological evaluation, as others have stated above. 

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