Question regarding medical card and lap-band

Hi everyone! I'm Brenda, and I live in KY. (Yes, I know I'm on an IL board!) Anyway, I had the lap-band over a year ago and have lost over 135 lbs by now! Now to my question: I have a friend who is trying to find a surgeon that will do the lap band and accept an IL medical card. Does anyone have any ideas? They live near Macomb. (1 1/2 hours north of Springfield). The girl went through all this testing and stuff and now the doc says he won't do the lap-band on someone with a medical card because basically, there's not that much money to be made. He will, however, do the Roux-ny or whatever you call it. There's no way she wants to do that. I'd appreciate any help you can give to me. Feel free to email me privately if you wish. [email protected] Thanks again!

All these Doctors take the card as of now,some do the RNY and some the band.Take your pick from here.Hope something helps... Dr. Shayani In maywood.... he only does the Lap Band and he requires you to go to one support group meeting then will schedule a consult he moves pretty fast. 708-327-2899 Dr. Oliphant in Urbana he moves slower you have to call his office for a packet fill it out send it back in and you'll hear from them for an appointment in a few months I think he's currently scheduling for May. 217-383-3240 RNY only The surgeons at the COMP clinic at SIU they require a $260 up front to cover things that medicaid wont ??? and then $10-20 for nutritionist appointments and support group costs too. (217) 545-COMP Open RNY only Dr. Frederick Tiesenga in River Forest. (708) 386-1078 He just started accepting public aid. To get into the consult with him you will have to go to an informational meeting and get a packet. In the packet will be papers for you to fill out. You will need an upper GI, Gallbladder U/S(If you still have it), Psych Eval, Sleep Study (IF NEEDED), nutritionist consult ($75 OOP) You also have to write an essay explaining how YOU think the surgery is and how it is going to go. You have to explain WHY you need the surgery. (This all gets sent to the insurance company) He is now only doing 2 IPA cases a month. There's a surgeon in Bloomington Indiana that just got Illinois Public Aid providership. His name is Dr. Bradley Ray 812-330-9962 LAP Band Only His people are GREAT!!!! Good Luck and please let us know if you find one not on this list or if your told one of them on this list no longer accepts it.

Brenda someone told me you were asking for this information, I dont post here anymore but I do make sure people get the medicaid info when they needed it. Good luck to your friend All of these doctors accept medicaid Dr. Shayani In maywood.... he only does the Lap Band and he requires you to go to one support group meeting then will schedule a consult he moves pretty fast. 708-327-2899 Dr. Maillefer Dekalb Clinic 217 Franklin Street Dekalb, Illinois 60115 815-758-8671 Dr. Oliphant in Urbana he moves slower you have to call his office for a packet fill it out send it back in and you'll hear from them for an appointment in a few months I think he's currently scheduling for January/February. 217-383-3240 RNY only The surgeons at the COMP clinic at SIU they require a $260 up front to cover things that medicaid wont ??? and then $10-20 for nutritionist appointments and support group costs too. (217) 545-COMP Open RNY only Dr. Frederick Tiesenga in River Forest. (708) 386-1078 He just started accepting public aid. To get into the consult with him you will have to go to an informational meeting and get a packet. In the packet will be papers for you to fill out. You will need an upper GI, Gallbladder U/S(If you still have it), Psych Eval, Sleep Study (IF NEEDED), nutritionist consult ($75 OOP) You also have to write an essay explaining how YOU think the surgery is and how it is going to go. You have to explain WHY you need the surgery. (This all gets sent to the insurance company) He is now only doing 2 IPA cases a month. There's a surgeon in Bloomington Indiana that just got Illinois Public Aid providership. His name is Dr. Bradley Ray 812-330-9962 LAP Band Only His people are GREAT!!!! Good Luck and please let us know if you find one not on this list or if your told one of them on this list no longer accepts it. Debby

HAAAAAAAAA i did it first hehehe...I been posting it for you when i find someone that needs it since you did such a good job finding all the info.. Im glad your here Debby

Brenda, Regardless of Band or RNY, the surgeon makes NOTHING. You would be amazed at what Public Aid pays. It's very shocking. Your friend also needs to take into consideration that PA will NOT pay for her to get a "refill" so that will be out of pocket. Good Luck to her! Melissa Lap RNY 8/31/04 398/319/190