Frustrated!!

I am feeling so frustrated. I have read such great things about dr Ordoyne and thru the research seems he would be a great surgeon but apparently I missed him by a few days taking medicaid! i am still trying to find a dr anyone who can help thanks alot!!

I am going to use Dr. Geo. Merriman in Shreveport. I attended his seminar in Alex and really liked him. Also there is: Dr. Chu and Stevens in Lafayette & Dr. Andrew Hargroder in Baton Rouge who are all great Dr.'s from what I have read. These Dr.'s take Medicare so I assume they take Medicaid also. You can check with them. Good luck!

I so wish these programs were one and the same, but Medicare is a federal program that sets a part Centers of Excellence and Medicaid is a state-regulated program. All the doctors you mentioned are operating in COEs, but they don't neccessarily accept Medicaid. Would be nice if they did.

Sorry, just trying to help, but I don't know a lot about the programs as you can see. So you know any docs that take Medicaid in La. for her? If you don't know, I don't know who would.

Ok, Brenda, you have issued the challenge. I do think right now there are two doctors taking Medicaid in Louisiana. I soooo wish I were wrong. Dr. O in Covington takes a limited number of close-by residents and Dr. Martin at Vista in Baton Rouge takes Medicaid patients who also have another form of insurance. Some doctors will take some Medicaid patients on a case-by-case basis and I do know that Dr. Chung in Lake Charles has accepted at least one case. This is a real tough situation and I hope someone steps forward that will bring hope to the countless numbers in need. Before Katrina, everyone went to New Orleans and those doctors have not returned like Dr. Scott who moved his practice to Florida. Somebody, tell me something that you definitely know -- sorry, no guesses -- cause we need to spread the word and the hope. Onward! Frances

Dr. O takes absolutely no medicaid patients at all anymore. I've spoken to his office manager about this. It was overwhelming his practice. His office manager told me to tell anyone to call the Medicaid office that she thought there was someone in New Orleans doing the procedure and the office could direct them to this person

Hi, I'm from Arkansas but am having surgery in Sherevport, Dr. Merriman, and had Medicare, that was why I am using him; however, now I have insurance as well, so my status has changed. When I was with just medicare, his schedule person said they had a hold on medicare patients as the government was slow to pay, therefore, he was not doing any more until the last few months had been paid in full. I do know that in Arkansas, there are a lot of doctors who take Medicaid, especially in Little Rock. I don't know, however, if you can take medicaid out of your state, if you can, start checking with Arkansas. If you can take medicaid from one state to the other, start on the Arkansas board and the doctor's profiles. Good luck.

Good to hear from you neighbor Medicare is a federal program and does cross state lies. Medicaid is a state program and each state has a difference form of it. I've been on Louisiana Medicaid and, unfortunately, it does travel with ya. Thanks for the input and I wish you well with your journey. Onward! Frances

Dr. Shimer in Lake Charles I believe takes Medicaid. Not sure how far that is from you. He is a wonderful surgeon. His office number would be listed under The Clinic here in Lake Charles. Good luck in finding the perfect surgeon. Get lots of references before you commit! Peggy B.

Thanks for all the responses I am going to check into the dr's that u listed and keep u posted on what i find so if I get lucky and someone else may need the same info!