find a dr accept medicare

Hi all, I am looking for a dr-clinic that will accept medicare. I have both a&b. I was so excited (2 yr.s ago) when I won my disability case and finally got the ins. It seems everytime I see a commercial for the lap band surgery, I call it only to find out that do't accept medicare. I don't really have a primary dr, I just see a p.a for little things, and when I told her what I wanted to do , she asked ME what it was all about so no help there!. Is there a website you can go to , or even this site ,that will help me find a dr and clinic? I live in s.e ks. Also , if anyone has used medicare for the sugery ,could you tell me how you went about it, and the out of pocket expenses? thank you so much, susan

In order for Medicare to pay for this surgery, you must go to a Bariatric Surgical Center of Excelence. This is a new rule effective Feb 22, 2006. Unfortunatly at this time there're are no centers in Kansas. Several places have applied but have not got the certification yet. I just had surgery 4 weeks ago (Roux-en-Y). I went to Sadalia MO to have it done. I saw Dr. Hornbostel there. He is an excelent surgeon. I would use him again. However he is not good on the bedside manner thing. I don't personally care if he's good at parties but if you are looking for a "full service surgeon" then you may not like him. If you go to this web site http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/BSF/list.asp#TopOfPage There is a list of approved Medicare facilities listed by state. I hope this helps you. Feel free to ask if you need anything else.

i sent you an email....i have medicare and medicad as well and i had mine done in Topeka....it paid 100 percent of my surgery and i didnt have to go to some center prior to approval....get in touch with me..... cat

You DO HAVE to go to a Bariatric Center of Excelence. What date was your surgery? Was it before Feb 22, 2006? All you have to do is search this board. There are people talking about this all over the place. I was scheduled for surgery with Dr. Dunshee at Tallgrass on March 2, 2006. They called the day before and cancelled because Medicare passed and back dated the new rule. Several other people on the Kansas board had their surgery cancelled too. Dream went to Colorado Springs to have her surgery. At least 1 other member that I know of is going to Norman Oklahoma for hers. Kansas Medicaid does not pay for this surgery at all. Even the Dr.s say that at their seminars and they don't typically say much on that because they vary so much. Medicare did pay for my surgery 100% but only because I went to a center of excelence. Tallgrass and St. Francis have made application for this rating and are waiting on their site inspection. If you follow my link: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/BSF/list.asp#TopOfPage you will see that there are no approved Medicare facilities in Kansas.

Sorry...didnt mean to intrude. I'll know better next time to post a response. And yes my surgery was before 2006...guess i lucked out

i know that dr price just joined st lukes that is off the plaza and since i will be doing the billing there has not be any insurance we are not setting him up with. medicare being the first. not sure if the hospital qualifies for what medicare is wanting but i do know that he has his own specific program from shrink, nurtitionist, exercise people... he is orgionally from georgia i believe so if medicare has his listed then the hospital would be covered..... anyway he is just starting here in mo/ks area and the trip would be worth it since it could easitly be a lap procedure that means outpatient and only a day worth of trouble in traveling. good luck wish i could offer more insite and help. wendy