Help understanding NB system

I'm getting the impression from what I've read that the process for lap-band surgery in NB may have changed recently? I'm brand new to this - just started researching and saw my family doctor. He thought I'd need to be referred to an endocrinologist before being referred to Dr. B, but I thought I had read that step was eliminated? Can anyone advise? Thank you!

Hi Cynthia, I would suggest you call Dr Beausoleil's office (858-8199). They will tell you what you need to do. But yes, you don't need to see the specialist anymore, Dr Beausoleil is now approving the surgeries. Good luck, Pascale

Thank you! My doctor put the referral directly through after I told him I heard it had changed. I suspect I have quite a long wait in front of me before I get to see him though...

The process changed on Feb 14 of this year. Another great change is that you no longer have to pay 4500.00 for the lap-band. It has taken years for most of us to see the endocrinologist; I had been waiting over 3 years when the process changed. The wait for lap-band is far shorter than for by-pass. He does 2 lap-bands most weeks and only 1 by-pass. Another bit of good news is that there are 2 surgeons setting up a clinic in Halifax. This should eliminate a lot of people on Dr B's waiting list.

What do you mean....you don't have to pay for the lap-band? When did that happen?I am very curious as I paid for mine in march?

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone could advise on how long it takes from having your family doctor submit referral to Dr. B in Moncton before you get appointment with him .I am intereseted in this surgery but don't want to wait a year or more to have it done .. Also just wondering if you are approved by NB medicare if you can have the surgery out of province and receive any money back from NB medicare ?

A year...LOL ...sorry, but if you read older posts you would know why I laughed. Before the process changed,, I had been waiting over 3 years just to see the endocrinologist who may may not apply to Medicare for me. If I was approved then I would have been on Dr B's list for an initial consultation. The wait for surgery was 3 to 5 years. Now you can be referred to Dr B by your family doctor but length of the wait is now unknown. As far as going out of province- I would assume that you would have to see an endocrinologist to hopefully recommend to Medicare that you have the surgery. I am making an assumption...Unless you are already a patient or have a friend who is an endocrinologist, you face a wait for that to start with any way. If you want a lap-band, Dr B will only do fills for his patients. There is a new clinic starting up in Halifax, that may shorten wait time. I don't know if they are taking NB patients. I don't know if Medicare will pay if you are not pre-approved. Medicare will pay for surgery of approved patients in hospitals in Canada only, but not in private clinics. Your best bet is to check it out with Medicare. Before the change in February a number of people who use this site could have given you all the answers, but now, it is up in the air and we are slowly piecing information together as people are called for consults or information sessions etc. Good luck. Let us know any new information you may find out! Of course, you can ask questions here from people who have had surgery to get the inside scoop about what it is really like.

I called Dr. B 's office last week and was told (I asked for confirmation TWICE to make sure I understood properly) that with a referal from a family doctor (which I have) , it can take up to 5 years to see Dr. B for an initial consult. If you wait to see him and are approved, it can move fairly quickly from cosnult to surgery (within a couple months)...but the wait time to see him is 5 years...unless I didn't understand properly . Office person is very nice and very helpful. c.

I think the the wait time for the consult with the endocrinologist has just been added to the time to see Dr B. The total time is the same as was pre-February. I have a shorter await time to see Dr B because I was referred to him and the endocrinologist in Nov 2003. But if you can't spend 16,000.00, you may as well start the process. Time will go by no matter what.