Dr. Oliphant - Lap Band and All Kids/Family Care (Medicaid)

I'm new here and just trying to figure out how it all works. My PCP sent my referral to Dr. Oliphant and I have received my packet in the mail to fill out and send back.  I am hoping to have the Lap Band procedure and I have All Kids/Family Care Insurance through the state of Illinois (medicaid).

 

Now for my questions ... how long does the process usually take (approx), from referral to surgery? 1st appointment to surgery? Is there a pre-op diet that is required for medicaid? What tests does Dr. Oliphant require before surgery? How many times did you have to see the nutritionist?

 

I had a few other questions that I was going to ask but I can't remember what they were now so I'll post them later if I do remember. Thanks!

Welcome to the Illinois forem, Please join us in our daily roll call. A lot of your questions will be answered there.

The medical card has nothing to do will what you will need to do. Once you fill out the packet you received, and send it back, the office will call you and set up an appointment. At that time, they will tell you what you need to do. You will have to do a diet for either 3 or 6 months, see a heart specialist, a phyc evaluation, a lung guy, get some blood work done,and anything else your dr wants for you. Plus   a dietician.Depending on you and your dr, it will take between 3 and 6 months, or longer,

Lisa

I do know that with the medical card, they no longer pay for the dietician, which is like $280.00 for the first hour but you can do a payment plan, and it was hard trying to find  a dr. to do pysch eval who would accept medical card.  I started in Feb. but had a few problems with paperwork had to get psych eval first before consult, which took forever to get report (4 months) and my original consult was for Nov. 9 but reschduled for Dec. 28.  Good luck with the process!!

I did not have the lap band but had RNY with Dr. Oliphant in October of 08.  I will tell you that for the RNY he requires 3 support group meetings before he will schedule the surgery.  The lap band support group meets once a month.  I had regular insurance and was already approved (had already completed a 6 month diet) when I had my first consultation.  From first consult to surgery was 2.5 months.  I do not know much about the lap band procedure..but for the bypass he does require a sleep test...since the band is a much shorter surgery I do not know if he requires this.  Hope this was of some help.

Thanks for the replies! After researching the different options I have decided against the Lap-Band.