Hello everyone. I am fairly new to this but I have recently submitted my paper work to the surgeons office. My insurance company (BCBS of Minnesota) sent me a guide line to be eligible for WLS. One of the entries says a six month medically supervised diet. It also says it cannot be just an entry in your records from your physician. A lady i work with has had the surgery and she said she did not have medically "supervised" diet. Her surgeon made her lose 70lbs before he would do the surgery. She left his office, came back a year later and she had lost the 70 lbs. No supervision at all. For me, my PCP said in my referral letter that I had been taught how to carb count several times to lose the weight and of course failed. He had several entries of weight loss attempts but I had no fixed "diet" that I would come in and weigh in every month, what do you think?? Do you think I will be denied on this basis??Would you start this medically supervised diet before the denial or just wait to see what happens? Thanks everyone--- Chris

I had gastric bypass in Scottsbluff. Dr. Forney did mine, but both drs had a part of it. They are excellent drs. You can't go wrong with them, the hospital or the staff. Hazel

Has anyone had lapband surgery in scottsbluff? If so what Doctor did you have and what kind of experience did you have? I am trying to get approved and need to be at Center of Excellence for my Medicare? Mona has been great helping me get started but I don't know anything about the Doctors.

I went to Dr. Sudan's seminar and he told all of us to check to make sure exactly what the insurance company counted as "medically needed". Well I called United Health Care and I was informed that the surgery was no longer covered in 2007 and then they tried to tell me that it wasn't covered in 2006. I told my HR person that I wouldn't have started this process if it wasn't covered. I know that I looked up the benefits and saw that it was a coverage procedure...now everyone is telling it never was. So, I am beside myself and no way to pay for a $30,000 surgery. I am feelig low and depressed. I have to ice my knees now because they hurt so bad. My insurance said that no weightloss is covered...surgery or non surgery. I was with Dr. Anthone and he was trying to do a pannis removal surgery first, and my insurance company denied that all three times...we went through all three levels of appeals and was denied everytime. They viewed the surgery as cosmetic and not medically needed or beneficial to my health. I don't know what else to do. I was referred to a lawyer but she couldn't quarantee me that she could get the decision overturned and I can't afford to pay alot of money in fees. Does anyone have any helpful advise?

Hi Shelly, I just had my first fill at the surgery center and they told me only that one was free, the next would be $150. I haven't spoken with Lisa yet, but I thought that 2 were free. Is the 6-12 months of free fills if they are not done with fluoro?