Tricare People- Did this happen to you???

Hey guys-

I just got a call from my PCP, and Tricare called them and told them that I couldn't have my surgery at UNC- but I HAD to go to Womack Army Medical center at Ft. Bragg.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I am PRETTY CERTAIN that Womack doesn't have a steady stream of RNY procedures- I know they have done them in the past, but truth be known, I do not feel good about having my surgery there!

Why would I go to General surgery department at Womack over UNC Gastric Surgical Department?

The very nice lady at Tricare told me I have 2 options

1- Go to UNC anyway and use my out of network coverage (meaning I pay 1/2)
2- Call Womack and see if they will transfer my Referral to UNC. (She provided me a general switchboard # and had no idea who I should even ask for....any ideas?)

So I am side-swipped, I mean, at least I didn't get a "NO" from Tricare, but I took a lot of time researching my surgeon and finding someone I felt good about. I don't want to knock Womack- they are a great bunch- I had both my babies there-

It is that SO MANY of the doctors there are Soldiers- eligible for deployment, and reassignment- I want long term follow-up AND someone who has done an RNY more than once (or 10 times). All I am saying is that RNY is not their speciality.

Any advice or ideas or insight would be greatly appreciated...


***UPDATE****(as of 3:25 pm) I have found out that Womack has a Surgeon there that seems wonderful! (Deb- I think you may have had her....) SO not so bleak- 3 years ago, when I first researched Womack- this was not the case... so feeling better!!!

Well gosh, I don't have advice but will be anxious to hear how this turns out for you.  Why can't things ever be simple, ya know?  Hang in there.  Hope you get some good input soon and things go exactly the way you are hoping they will!  {{{Hugs!!!}}}

before you do anything, call Karen at Dr Farrell's office and tell her what's up, she has seen it all and i guarantee she can help you work it out!!!

Thank you! I will call her now....

((((Kim)))),

Cross post this to the main, RNY and insurance forums. You'll be casting a bigger net there and may get more answers. The other thing I would do is talk to Darcie and Deb_M. I don't know you are planning to come to the breakfast meeting tomorrow, but I know that Deb is planning on being there. She had her surgery on base, and I think it might have been at Womack and if I remember correctly, she's had a very good experience with her surgeon and their program.

Barb

Hey Girl,

I live more that 50 miles away from any military facility so it was not a question that came up for me.  I have had a waiver before for medical procedures when DH was active duty and it really was not too difficult to get. 

Good luck on this one I really am not sure what avenue to pursue, but I always had good luck with the patient affairs office. 

If I hear of anything that will help I'lll pm you.

Can you not go to Pitt Memorial in Greenville? I know it's far to drive but that is where I had mine and they took Tricare Prime.. Great service.. I wouldn't go to a MILITARY HOSPITAL if I was DYING... I WOULD FIGHT WITH TRICARE TO LET YOU GO TO A CIVILAIN..

NO MILITARY DOCTOR DOES MULITPULE GASTIC BYPASS SURGERYS.. DON'T PUT YOUR LIFE IN SOMEONES HANDS WHO YOU KNOW DOESN'T DO THEM ALL THE TIME.. IT'S TO RISKY...

Just my opinion.. I 'm from Camp Lejeune.. and you don't go to the miltiary hospitall ever....ever... unless you are active duty...

ummm where do you live? I live in Richlands as my hubby is a Marine and Tricare had me go to Greenville... which is not far at all... very strange! We have the Naval hospital here right in town but they DO NOT DO RNY and I would rather do my own RNY then go to The Naval hospital for Gastric Bypass.... OMG the thought of that is scary!! Ive had my foot operated on at Camp Lejeune and thats fine, they are routinely done but no military doctor in this town does Bariatric surgerywhich is fine with me and also the reason they send everyone out of town to get it done in this neck of the woods. We dont have Army we have Navy for our medical so things might be different in your situation. I didnt mind driving to Greenville and having a Bariatric specialist do mine Good luck!

I am in Raleigh and DH is stationed at Bragg.  I see a civilian PCP and have NEVER had an issue gettting a referral t where I wanted to go...

I agree with you guys- that I should go where they do RNYs routinely

DH made a joke that Womack's specialty is OBGYN and not too much more... =)

I am going to make another call, because it is amazing how different things can be depending on who you talk to...

Kim,

Contact Deb_M. She had hers through WOMACK and they have a very comprehensive and active RNY program. She originally had the same concerns that you have voiced, but has had a very positive experience. I saw her today at the get together and mentioned your situation and concerns. She said that she understood and would look up your post and contact you.

Wishing you all the best,

Barb