Impatient

So I sent letters to my old PCP , 2 chiropractors, and my old orthopedic surgeon asking if they would write me a letter of recommendation for surgery. I also requested a copy of my medical records from my old PCP. Well they just called and she won't write a letter without seeing me first. Great! This is the physician who wouldn't do anything for weight loss but tell me to go to Weigh****chers. So I scheduled an appointment and the earliest I could get in was the 25th! I really want to try and have surgery in July but don't think I will be able to get the stuff to insurance in time to be approved and schedule etc. GAH! If all the Dr.'s want to see me, I won't be able too because I can't afford all the co-pays to see them. What is really going to burn me up is if I go out there and meet with her and she still won't write a letter... Sorry just had to vent. Sam

Sam, Dont know if this will help but Dr Cacucci will write your insurance company. Just need your current dr to write you a referal to see her. Then just contact the old drs and sign a release of information. Have them give you or mail to you a copy of all your old records. You really wont need a referals from old drs I dont think... I just went to all my old drs and and hospitals and got copies of my records. Hope this helps and might save you a buck or two. Mariah

Sam, I'm not sure if this helps, but here we go. I met with my PCP and my OBGYN who I've both spoken to each time about my weight. Neither one of them would write a referral and both thought that I was crazy to go for the surgery. I didn't need their recommendations. But they did send my records to Dr. Evanson and he was the one that wrote the letter that got me approved. There is hope.

Hmmm....I guess I thought if I had more Dr.'s Notes to send to the insurance the more likely it would be approved first time around ya know? I am still getting a copy of my records from the old PCP and I requested a copy from the new PCP as well. GAH This is all so confusing... Sam

This is how I went about it: I started seeing my PCP in August for the "supervised weight loss" thing that my insurance required. I called my insurance company to see if Dr. Cacucci was in network, she was, and then asked if i could set up my consultation and was told would be no problem. I didn't get my reccomendation letter from my PCP until the end of January when I completed the 6 month thing, and sent that info as well as Dr. Caccui's letter, and my insurance required clearance from a pulmonary dr so he wrote a letter as well. And that was it. I was approved about 3 weeks to a month after I sent all my stuff in. was Approved February 10th, had surgery March 1st.

Sam, If all you need from your old pcp is a copy of your records, you do not need to have an office visit with them. With the privacy act, they are required to give you a copy of your records. Yes, they can charge you a small fee for their copy services, but they cannot require you to see the doctor first. It is YOUR information. If they have a problem with that, have your present pcp or your surgeon's office request the records. As to the letters, your current physicians/specialists are the ones you want the letters from..not your old ones. You want the letters to speak of your current condition, not your condition x years ago. Hope this helps... Sherri

Thanks so much! It does make sense I want about my current condition, not the past. I wasn't morbidly obese back then. I will call today and cancel the appointment and just get the copy of the records ASAP. Thanks so much for all the input! Sam