Diet History

So I was surfing the OH site and boards in search of diet history information. On one thread I read that not all of the diet history has to be consecutive but accumulative.  Okay good to know.

Still I've never paid money to lose weight other than joining Curves at one point to exercise. I never understood why I had to pay to lose $1 a pound! I thought the system should have been different. Like if you needed or wanted to lose say 50lbs then you paid $50 up front; a dollar for each pound. Then of course there would be other fees involved too.

But that for every pound you lost you would then receive a dollar back! Kind of like being paid to lose weight, and if you reached your goal then you'd geta  bonus of say $25 or something in return.

To me that seemed like more motivation to lose weight, in order to get my money back than just paying some one a dollar everytime I lost a pound on TOP of all of the food, guidance and meetings they offered.

Ok enough side tracking.

Is WeightVVatchers the only "approved" type of diet history? I've read some used FitDay as a diet history as well, but many insurance comapnies want supervised diets of some sorts, so what options are available? Is Jenny Craig viable? specialized nutritionists? WeightVVathchers? What else?

Which was the cheapest and easiest to do?
What program worked best for you?

Since I may just have to wait indefinitely on the WLS because of DH job loss and insurance issues I figured I could at least get a 12mo diet history in while I wait (and rather impatiently I might add).

Currently I have BCBS PPO for about 5 more weeks and then hopefully State insurance if Dh doesn't find a job soon, and if and when he does that's at least a 3 month wait for insurance to even kick in etc etc etc. ((BLAH))

So what would be the best way to get the 6-12mo of diet history in?

Just simply a monthly trip to your PCP will work as long as your weight is registered and he writes in his notes that he talked to you about it during your visit. Have him throw you a 1200 calorie diet at each visit to be on the safe side.

I used Henry Ford Hospital's weight management program as my 12-month supervised diet history. It was paid for by my insurance company and was very through. I saw an exercise therapist once or twice a month, my weight was recorded, and at every visit she gave me numerous handouts with pertinent information.  My surgeon was delighted at how thorough their documentation was. 

I know someone who joined Weigh****chers, Curves and saw her doctor every month so there would be no question about her meeting that requirement. That might be considered overkill, but hey, she was dedicated to her goal.

You won't be using your 3 years of COBRA?

Elaine   

COBRA I don't think is fesible with our finances. We have 7 kids and I don't think even the individual COBRA payments would be consucive to our finances.

I still had old WW data from 20 years but they didn't make me find it.  I worked with my PCP.  She just used the fact that she weighed me ever time I stepped foot into her office.  She take my BP every time.  As she has been treating me for high BP for years, which means she mentioned my weight to me all the time.

She just stated that She had been working with me for six months and I was good to go.

Each insurance company is different.  Each company's plan is different with the insurance company.

I suggest calling them and asking them to send you  a copy of the policy on bariatric surgery.   That way you have it in writing (to show to your PCP if needed.)

In most cases monthly documentation from your PCP is sufficient.  (My BCBS-HMO required 6 mos of docs and I had to show 3 visits in a 90 day period.)

Best wishes on your journey!!!

The 6 months is 6 consecutive months for BCBSM

Also, the 6 months is waived if you have a bmi of over 50

Yes your doctor will work - 1x month - keep a food log along with dr info

I didn't do a food journal.

I think your doctor has a lot to do with it.  Mine had watched me struggle for years and didn't make me do 6 more months. 

These are my requirements: http://www.bcbsm.com/ma/pdf/benefit_weight_loss_surgery.pdf

Additional Surgical procedures for severe obesity are covered if all of the following criteria are met:

•The patient has a BMI >40 or a BMI of >35 with co-morbid conditions (such as degenerative joint disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, presence of other atherosclerotic diseases, Type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea and/or congestive heart failure).

•Bariatric surgery may be indicated for patients 18 to 60 years of age. Requests for bariatric surgery for patients less than 18 years of age should include documentation that the primary care physician has addressed the risk of surgery on future growth, the patient's maturity level and the patient’s ability to understand the procedure and comply with post operative instructions, as well as the adequacy of family support. Patients above 60 years of age may be considered if it is documented in the medical record that the patient’s physiologic age and co-morbid condition(s) result in a positive risk benefit ratio.

•The patient has been clinically evaluated by an M.D. or D.O. The physician has documented failure of non-surgical management including a structured, professionally supervised (physician or non-physician) weight loss program for a minimum of twelve consecutive months within the last four years prior to there commendation for bariatric surgery.

•Documentation should include periodic weights, dietary therapy and physical exercise, as well as behavioral therapy, counseling and pharmacotherapy, as indicated.

•Documentation that the primary care physician and the patient have a good understanding of the risks involved and reasonable expectations that the patient will be compliant with all post-surgical requirements.

•A psychological evaluation must be performed as a pre-surgical assessment by a contracted mental health professional in order to establish the patient’s emotional stability, ability to comprehend the risk of surgery and to give informed consent, and ability to cope with expected post-surgical lifestyle changes and limitations. Such psychological consultations may include one unit total of psychological testing for purposes of personality assessment (e.g., the MMPI-2 or adolescent version, the MMPI-A).

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Now I am hoping that perhaps the one doctor that I have been seeing for almost 2 years now will be able to help me with the documentation. She's a holistic chiropractor, but she is also a nutrionalist. But because she is more holistic I worry that she may say no. But like my husband said. I might as well ask, as the worst she'd say is 'No'; and I wouldn't want to kick myself later for not having asked.

Just the purpose of our visits never resulted in weighing me, but we did talk about nutrition a few times and what not.

Still I am on a time table if I want to try and get this done before the insurance runs out. And even if I can't "rush" it, I will be perfectly fine with it and just continue to gather the information I need for later on when it is the right time to do the surgery.

So your diet plan has to be 12 consecutive months.  As some have suggested, making an appointment with their PCP to PURPOSEFULLY discuss diet and weight will suffice.  But it looks like yours could also be from WW or the like since it says "professionally supervised( physician or non physician)."  

When I had WLS, I had done Medical Weight Loss and had those records, so that worked for me.  It was medically supervised (which was required by my ins at the time) and I had more than enough of the 12 months needed.  But MWLC is not cheap.  I would think WW is cheaper.  I also had my records from Curves and my current gym, which showed everytime I checked in for a workout.  

I think you are doing the right thing by being proactive with this, despite your insurance situation.  Tina

This website information is from BCBS - Massachusetts.  Is that really who your policy is through???  BCBS - Michigan recently changed their WLS policy and no longer requires a 12-month diet if your BMI is over a certain number and is only 6-months (I think) under a certain BMI.  Check the Michigan website if that's the insurance policy you have.


I could be wrong, but the "ma" in the middle of that URL makes me think it's from Mass...
Just double check..