Flint Hurley WLS & MEDICARE

well i thought that i was sailing threw everything was ready all my medical records for 5 years psych-eval done and passed but now a stummbeling block hurley in flint is not certified COE center of exellance so now my medicare wont cover the surgery. i call the surgical review corporation and they said it takes a year for the full certification but i guess hurley already has provisional approval so it might take 4-6 months. im just a little disappointed . i wish they would have told me when i was there that they had to get this certification done they knew i had medicare from the begining AHHHHHHHHH IM GOING NUTS LOL NOT REALLY ill post more when i find out more if anyone has any info on hurly or there progress with the certification please post

You can go thru CORI they are COE certified. I think Henry Ford is also. I am not sure about any others though. Hope this helps. God Bless and good luck----Toni

Toni, People at CORI are having trouble with Medicare also. The medicare guidelines say that it's the hospital that needs to be COE. I think that it's Harper that not COE by the ABSM. I'm sure Harper has applied but it will take time. Harper is COE certified by JACHO and I heard it is much the same process. Jeanne

Hi Curt, From everything I have heard this COE was sort of an unwelcomed surprise from Medicare last month when they finally came out with their new guidelines for covering WLS. It takes $10,000.00 to become a COE for a hospital and I think about $5,000.00 for a surgeon. So the larger WLS mills (aka CORI Center) can come up with that kind of dough quicker than other smaller but just as good & qualified, WLS providers. So though the intention for quality/standarization is there it is more economics than anything else right now.. So please don't let that deter you in your choice of surgeon or facilities. Instead if at all possible just try to think of this as another bump in the road towards your obtaining the WLS and be grateful that Medicare didn't nix the WLS procedure coverage completely as that was their original intention and the hopes of many other insurance carriers. Patt

Well it is the same for me. I was nearly complete with all my hurdles and found that I couldn't go to the hospital in Indiana because they are not ASBS certified for medicare. Well know I have to go to Michigan. I am from Michigan. There is a Hospital in Grand Rapids, the Spectrum of health at Blodgett Campus. Dr. Donald Scholton and a few other surgerants there do the Baratric Surgery. You should check into that. Speak with Ann Balman 1-888-966-6243 I hope this helps you. Medicare just change the roleing this year and it has surprised a lot of Hospitals/Doctros/Nurses and patients. This happened with out warning. Good Luck! Take Care, God Bless! Love, Snugglebunny

ok well ive found out a few things i talked with the manager of Hurleys wls division and he says mid april they will have there coe certification. And i called the other place in Grand rapids and they are not takeing all medicare patients at the moment for some reason. But im going to stick with hurley ive come this far and im not going to stop now lol. Thanks for all the support IM GOING TO TRY TO GET TO THE BAYCITY SUPPORT GROUP SO POST YOUR NEXT MEETING DATE THANKS