Does Dr. Ikramuddin practice at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (in addition to the U of MN)?

Hi all,

I am pursuing the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, and it's not easy finding a surgeon in the Twin Cities area who is trained to perform this procedure.  I had met with Dr. Ikramuddin once at the U, and he DOES the VSG... but I was discouraged by the additional fees that the U charges for the clinic space (and that my insurance BCBS expects me to pay for). 

So... in my search for other possible VSG surgeons, I've been checking out the major hospitals in the Twin Cities area... and I see Dr. Ikramuddin's name listed on Abbott's bariatric website.  Really???  Honestly????  I suppose I'll know for sure when I call Abbott's bariatric office on Monday, but hopefully someone here knows the answer.

OMG, this would be so flippin' wonderful if Dr, Ikramuddin practices at Abbott!!!!!!

Thank you for any info you can share with me.

Naomi

I'm going through Abbott and his name is on all of the information that I have so yes I believe he does surgery at both hospitals.

http://www.allina.com/ahs/bariatric.nsf/ - his name is listed on their web site as well


Good Luck,

Kristy

You need to call the ANW Bariatric office and see. I have no idea, the only 3 docs I was told were available when I went to my info session were Chute, Drew, and Schwartz. You'll just have to ask them. I know he's part of the Mpls Bariatric Surgeons practice but I dont know if he has ANW privilidges... 612-863-7501

I had my RNY at ANW by Dr. Ikramuddin.  He usually partners up with Dr. Leslie who also is affiliated with the U and Abbott

Hi Naomi,
Yes, Dr Ikramuddin does practice at ANW Hospital through the ANW Bariatric Center.  I have been just approved to have the VSG done by him at ANW. 

He is a tremendous surgeon.  To warn you, he is not a big fan of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy.  But I think he is coming around after learning and seeing the long term results that are finally coming out with this surgery.  He listened to me and I listened to his suggestions/arguments and in the end I never faulted from my reasons for wanting the VSG and he agreed to do it. 

Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions. 

Jen

Hi Jen,

I've met with Dr. I at the U in August, and I'll agree with you - he's not a big fan of the VSG.  He tried long and hard to talk me into the band - but in the end said that, if I can get insurance authorization for a VSG, that he'll do one for me.

May I ask what insurance company you had?  I'm so afraid that the insurance hurdle is going to be one I can't clear - but I will never know unless I try, right?  Do you have any special considerations that make the VSG a better procedure for you than the other WLS procedures? 

Oh - one last question - does ANW have a facility fee that has to be paid separately from what insurance pays?  This is the reason why I'm not seeing Dr. I at the U - and something the lady from ANW said today makes me think that there's a facility fee there, too.

Thanks so much!

Naomi

Good morning Naomi,
I have Health Partners insurance.  The VSG was and still is considered an investigational surgery.  I have a health issue that enabled me to be a candidate for VSG.  The RNY was not an option and later found out the lap band was not a great choice either.   I did have to do an appeal and also a peer to peer review, before they accepted. 

I did go in wanting the VSG before I found out about my health issues.  So for what ever reasons you found that you want the VSG the fight is worth it. 

The good news for you is, the VSG is coming out with it's own CPT code in 2010.  This will open the door for more insurance companies to hopefully accept this surgery.

I am sure most if not all facilities charge a fee. 

I wish you all the best and good luck.   Please let me know if I can help out more.

Jen
 

My HealthPartners policy covered the Duodenal Switch at the same rate and same level as they cover the lap band or the Roux En Y gastric bypass. 

HealthPartners DOES NOT CONSIDER THE DUODENAL SWITCH AS INVESTIGATIONAL:  GOOD for them!!!!!!!!  :) 

Jen,

I'm so glad that the surgery you wanted worked out for you. 

I'm hopeful about the VSG having its own CPT code in January.  I don't know how quickly the insurance companies will begin to accept the surgery as a standard procedure, but if it's a matter of me waiting a few months to get the procedure that I want, then I'm willing to wait a bit.

I met with Dr. Rupp from United Hospital last week.  He's pretty enthusiastic about the VSG - much more so than Dr. I - and he's anticipating that insurance companies will change their policy regarding the VSG sometime in 2010.  I have an appointment to begin the process with his practice in January.  (Seems a very long time to wait, but I know it will be here soon enough.)

So... at this point in time, I'm going to pursue a VSG with Dr. Rupp.  I sure wish this journey was a little easier!  I feel like it's been very hard work just to find the right surgeon that's a good match for me.

Hi Naomi,

I think Dr. I does surgeries at Abbott.  I know that there are some U of MN surgeons in their bariatric / weight management clinic that do.  There is a fellow at the DS support group that had the DS done at Abbott by either Leslie or Todd, cannot remember which.

My question would be, have you considered the full Duodenal Switch?  Why just the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy? 

My insurance HealthPartners covers U of MN Bariatric Clinic (weight management clinic) 100 % but I did have an additional "fee" or percentage of my bill for surgery at the U of MN Fairview.  In my opinion, it was worth it to me to be able to have one of the greatest bariatric surgeons of all times, Dr. Buchwald perform my Duodenal Switch.

Consider the DS as a valid option in your surgical pursuit.  The VSG is half of the DS.  :)  Your results would be better with the DS, and long term weight loss maintainence. 

Thanks,

Kathy