New to the forum and looking for info

Hi, I just joined up and have been looking at info on weight loss surgery. I hope some of y'all can help. I live in southeast Mo, on the Arkansas border and have disability due to back problems aggravated by obesity. I am trying to find a surgeon, most likely in St. Louis, who will accept Mo. medicare. Anyone have any recomendations or any experiences with Mo medicare paying for WLS? Thanks.

Well your lucky that you can get to st Louis becouse that is the only place around that takes medicar anymore but the surgen doesn't take I was told by my surgen I was the last one to get aproved at truman mned center in Kansas city becouse that is the only specialized place that has a surgen that they will aprove. I hope you can get it done and this is of any help I dont know the surgens name but if you call your hosital they might be able to help or go to the surch for DR here on O/H and look for the wls surgen in ST Louis. good luck Harry

first of all you have to find a hospital that has a certificate of Excellence which as of right now the only one is in St. Louis. Depaul is its name. Then you have to find out if they take Medicare which they do. then you have to find a doctor that practices there that takes medicare and if they take people in your age bracket. I have medicare and I am going to Sedalia on the 5th , they are suppose to be getting their certification soon. And Dr Hornbostel is the only one i can find that will operate on people 65 and older. Hope this helps some. Jan

Welcome to the board Jerri. You may call Depaul and see if they do the surgeries there and which Dr you need to contact. Jan is the resident expert on Medicare and weight loss surgery. Dr Hornbostle in Sedalia is a very good surgeon and is having a seminar in April. Sometimes you need to travel to get this done. I am in Springfield and had to go to St.Louis so be prepared to travel. Again welcome to the board and keep us posted on your progress. Wayne

I had my surgery with Doc Lambert in Batesville , Arkansas and he accepts medicare but probably not the mo medicaid. I had private insurance and medicare when I had surgery back in 2003 and the hospital and the doc accepted medicare. If you are under 65 and on medicare due to disability it is easier than if you are over 65. I dont know if they are on the centers of excellence down there or not yet. Most hospitals are in the process of getting that certification and will get it in time. I lived in West Plains, MO when I had my surgery there and there are several others in West Plains who had surgery in Batesville. The hospital there is great.

Hi Jerri, Welcome to the Missouri Board. You are definitely among friends here. We have a wonderfully active now (thanks, Wayne) and supportive board. I look forward to getting to know you as you post. Welcome! Cathy ObesityHelp Support Group Specialist

Jerri, I am 69 now and had surgery on Medicaire at 68 in Nov. I was in for my checkup with Dr. Hornbostel in Sedalia on the 23rd of March and he told me Medicare were surveying him on the following Monday. He is a fine surgeon and the surgery is done at Bothwell Hospital in Sedalia. We are having a seminar on Wed April 5th at 600p.m.( this month it is at the hospital) Usually it is held in a church. I will be there as I am bringing someone to the seminar. If you want anymore info email me. I had Medicaire and private Insurance and I saw Doc on a wednesday and was approved in one week. Hope you have a fantastic day. This is a great place to come for support. Come back again. Sorry I am late posting on a Sat, but I worked 11 hours yesterday. I am an RN. Colette

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate the information and encouragement. My research thus far has produced very few paths available to me as far as surgeons. I have heard from DePaul and yes they accept Medicare, but their surgeon does not. I did receive an answering email from Dr. Hornbostel's office and that seems promising. I shall have to look into that further. Thank you all once again!