*help* insurance question

Hello, I am new to this. And I have a question. I am 35 years old and on total disablity due to my help problems. Does anyone know of any doctors in NC that takes Medicare and Medicaid? I have called several doctors and all that I have called say no. I don't know where to go. Can someone help answer my question. I am 53 BMI and need help A.S.A.P. Sonya

Have you tried Duke Weight Loss?

I will call them Monday. Thank You.

Sonya,      Where abouts in NC are you? I believe Village Surgical takes Medicare. They are in Fayetteville.

Lisa

I am near salisbury and 50 miles from charlotte

Dr Voellinger in Charlotte does.

I have not tried them , thanks for telling me.

Hi Sonya -

DukeWLS.org is the website for Duke Medical Center's Weight Loss Surgery program. Their phone number is 919-660-2229.

Because you have Medicare, you will need to go a facility that has been awarded the "Medicare Center of Excellence" designation. Medicare will not pay the claim if the program you look at is not certified as a "Medicare Center of Excellence."  The program at Duke uses Durham Regional Hospital as their "facility".

If you do not live near Durham, below is the CMS list of facilities currently recognized by Medicare for bariatric surgery.

Cape Fear Valley Health System
Durham Regional Hospital
FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital
Frye Regional Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
NorthEast Medical Center
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
The Presbyterian Hospital

Contact the facility and let them know you are interest in bariatric surgery and you would like to know the name of the groups that perform bariatric surgery. Contact them and be sure that they accept Medicare ... If they are a Medicare Center of Excellence, they will. Then you are office running!

I hope that this information is helpful to you.

Barb

Cape Fear Valley Health System
Durham Regional Hospital
FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital
Frye Regional Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
NorthEast Medical Center
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
The Presbyterian Hospital

Hello, thank you so much for your reply. It will be very helpful. Do you know any certain doctors that would except my insurance. That is what I feel I will have more problems with because several of the doctors I have called said "no", they did not take Medicare. And then the hospitals said it was fine with them if I could find a doctor to cover "HIS" services. I have a lot of work ahead of me i'm sure, to find someone that excepts it. Thanks, again    Sonya

Have you checked with Dr. Adolfo Fernandez at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem?  I don't know if they accept Medicare or not but I do know that the hospital is a Center of Excellence now so they might.  I thought since you were near Salisbury that wouldn't be too awful far for you to drive.  His office number is 336-716-6099 and Peggy is usually who answers the phone and she is very helpful.  I hope you are successful at finding someone who can help you out.  Don't ever give up!  Good luck and keep us posted! Hugs, Donna