state cuts may cut off surgery

Linda J.
on 12/22/03 1:28 am - Brewer, ME
I just spoke with Dr. Cloughs office to ask about the Dec.31 date for surgery. It seems there are many who care getting this notice and its because the state wants to cut Mainecare costs. And stopping the gastric bypass is one of their targets. I am smokin' ( not really just coming out my ears) I have a date, its Jan. 30th. But I don't know if it will happen now . . I know there are many of us that have January dates and maybe if we all got together and write and send e-mails to the house and senate it will help. I don't know who they are but I am going to check. And I will get back to you . We also need to pray cause God hears and He knows that this surgery is our only hope. God Bless all and Merry Christmas Linda Jenkins
KelleyS
on 12/22/03 1:39 am - Mapleton, Me
Wow, I have mainecare as a secondary insurance and with a Jan 2 date, they hadn't better tell me no... I already got my letter of approval from them!!
Helen K.
on 12/22/03 1:48 am - Wiscasset, ME
Ok I've been waiting to get my surgery since last year and I have finally gotten my approval and now they want to take this away from me and everyone else who's been waiting!!!!! I DON"T THINK SO!!!!!!!!! I am so fed up with the government thinking they can do this to us....Don't they realize if we don't get this surgery some of us maybe all of us may DIE!!!!! I have 4 kids I want to see get married and I won't if this surgery doesn't happen. Linda please let me know what I can do to help all of us Helen Koehling
HEATHER K.
on 12/22/03 4:58 am - HERMON, ME
I am really hoping and praying that the cuts will not affect any of our surgeries. I am scheduled to have surgery in 3 weeks. It is so close that I can feel it. Keeping my fingers crossed that all will go well. The insurance companies need to realize that this is not a cosmetic procedure but a procedure to save our lives. I wouldn't be going through this if it wasn't a last resort. Take care, ~Heather
Ron M.
on 12/22/03 6:43 am - Corinna, ME
I called Dr. Clough's office after I read this myself. Their office just received this notice today. They asked me how long my Maine care "surgery permit" lasted, and I replied till March. When Linda received her "Permit" it was only to Dec 31, 2003. Why did they send her a permit to get her hopes up? They should have known how popular this surgery is and there was no way that she could get a date by then. The office said that the hospitals will fight this as most of the folks getting this surgery have Mainecare. Please contact our Governor my email, phone and written letters. We need to stand up for ourselves. Offer other ways to cut expences or raise money. I wouldn't mind raising the sales tax to 6 or even 7 percent. This worked under King and he only raised it to 6 percent. Write letters folks, we need to let the governor know our feelings.
KelleyS
on 12/22/03 7:10 am - Mapleton, Me
Is this all effective immedietly??????? Will it complicate my surg jan 2? I only have mainecare as a secondary and my primary sent me a letter of approval so I'm not sure it would affect me even if it did come to a screaching hault right now.. but if anyone finds any new info.. let us know??????
Mary-Anne F.
on 12/29/03 6:10 am - Dedham, ME
You have nothing to worry about. I have been researching this issue all day. First I was told that Medicaid would be cutting off gastric bypasses on January 2 possibly. I got very worried and even posted something on the message board. I then started to wonder why I hadn't read this date in the newspaper and called the commissioners office and spoke to the acting deputy of medical services. She told me that people were getting approvals through December 31,2003 because they originally thought that was going to be the cut off date. That is no longer true. They are now going to have a public meeting all day on January 8th. The topic of Gastric Bypass will be discussed from 9 - 10:30am. All are welcome and actually if you know anyone that is trying to get approved they should definately be there. If the meeting goes the way that they want it too the medicaid reforms will go into effect on January 20. They believe that people with prior authorizations will be all set but people who don't probably will not have the surgery. Good luck with your surgery on Friday.
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