Help with my PCP

Hi, I have Health Alliance and I called to ask how my pcp viewed bariatric surgery and she got on the phone to tell me that it is basically a crap shoot. She stated that 50% of the people will gain all their weight back and that 4% die from the surgery. She said the risks outweight the benefits and she would only refer someone if they were a no hope situation. She also said that weight gain is purely psychological. I have to have referal from my pcp to see the Dr. Hammer who is the only surgeon Health Alliance will approve. I have already had one consult last year that I paid for myself to find out more about the surgery and he said I was an excellent candidate. So I tried to change my pcp but all other pcp's in the health alliance network will not take you if you are an associates patient. SO do I go to see my pcp who is down on bariatric surgery with a ton of facts and try to change her mind or do I become difficult and try to find a pcp in the network that will take me even if I am an associates patient. Anyone have a pcp in springfield and a member of health alliance? Anyone have any data that I can use to prove my point to my current pcp. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have to be on a 6 month supervised diet to meet the criteria for health alliance and I want to start that with my pcp immediatley.

After you finish slapping her with her clipboard...change docs. I hope someone here can help you. Her stats are WAY WAY WAY off.

Your PCP really needs to keep current with health issues! Will your insurance carrier allow you to go "out of network"? The coverage may be a little less (like 70/30), but it would be worth it! Otherwise, let the PCP monitor your diet for 6 months.......DON'T tell her your plans......once the 6 months is up and she has documented everything........get a new PCP even if you have to pay out of pocket for the referral to the surgon. The insurance company isn't going to care who documented the 6 month wt loss program and who made the referral for surgery! You can do this! Don't let anyone or anything stop you! Or take your PCP out of the loop now and start seeing a wt management MD while you search for a new PCP. If I can think of anything else I'll let you know. I hope this helps. Gina Flanzbaum RN (Jeff's wife)