Medicaid for Patient South of Springfield

I live near St. Louis, MO and want to know if there are any phisicians in this area (including St. Louis) who accept IDPA. The nurse at my Dr's office told me that Barnes Jewish in St. Louis accepts IDPA as do many other St. Louis hospitals. That great info but doesn't do me much good if I don't have a surgeon as well.  It truly is much easier for me to get the surgery if it is closer than Chicago but if need be, I will go. So, that leads me to my second question. If you are hours away from your surgeon and his office, how much does IDPA pay for? Do they help at all with travel or hotel for the person who takes you? I pretty much know the answer to this but am hoping I could be wrong. You know what I mean. As far as treatment goes, if you live hours away from your surgeon, can he and will he work with your PCP to get you as much follow up at home as possible so you are not constantly traveling? Thanks, Beth

Beth, You can contact the surgeon's at Barnes. Here is the info for them...Dr. Eagon & Dr. Halpin Patients Seen At Center for Advanced Medicine, GI Center 4921 Parkview Place, Suite C, Floor 8 St. Louis, MO 63110 (314) 454-7224 Fax:  (314) 454 5396 or The Weight Management Center

• Bariatric Surgery Program

Call the program office at (314) 286-2069 for an initial phone screening. You can also contact us by email at [email protected] It might also be easier for you PCP to call and give you a referral for them, I think you get in faster. Dee

Thank you, Dee. I will do that. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow. First time I have been to the doctor in over 5 years. I am scared to death. I haven't gone because I am mortified of the scale and what he will think when he sees I have gained 70 pounds since the last time I saw him. I do fuly intend to discuss surgery with him, tho. I already know he will be onboard because the last time I saw him, he told me there comes a time when the benefits fo surgery outweigh the risks. So thank you. I will take this information with me tomorrow. Beth

I called but it is a 2 year waiting list. If I don't find something by Monday or Tuesday, I will talk to my doctor's office on Tuesday and see if there is anything they can do or find. Otherwise if wait I must do, I will. It will just be a 40th burthday present! Yeah me! Of course, who knows, indurance could change before then. We'll see.  Thank you so much for the lead. If I can avoid Chicago, I will just because it's a VERY long way from home. Beth

I live in the Peoria, IL area. There are a couple of docs here that accept Medicaid. Dr. J. Salimath 309-671-7764 (this is my doc and I love him). and Dr. James Debord Peoria, IL sorry but I do not have his number. Anyway Salimath takes Medicaid for any of the surgeries and Debord just for RNY. Both are quite reputable and came to me with the highest recommendations from both patients and other physicians in the area. You could check into them online. Salimath through Methodist medical center in Peoria and Debord just by searching his name and Peoria, IL. Hope this helps they both have such friendly staff.  Kelley

Thanks about Dr Salimath, I now have an appt with him on march 5th. Can you explain everything that happens after that appt with him? How long till you had your surgery after that appt? And I tired looking up info on him, but he is fairly new to all this too? How many surgeries has he done, do you know? Thanks a million, Tracy