Insurance Coverage for Pre-Op Testing

Hi there,     My PCP asked me today if I knew how to code my pre-op testing for submission to my insurer.  She figures the blood work will be OK due to my diagnoses.  But the upper GI and the chest xray had her stumped.  She thought she's put it through under a general Preop code but warned me insurance may balk.  I contacted my bariatric coordinator, won't get any answer until Monday, but it has me wondering.  How do we get insurance to cover it.  It's peo-op testing for an operation that isn't approved yet.  Any insight is welcome.  Thanks Treading

For my upper GI, it was coded as indigestion, but everything else I had to pay for out of pocket. The most aggravating to me was the useless session with the physical therapist, which cost me more than a full day's pay (for 20 minutes of information that I learned in ninth grade PE class!)

hmm, my insurance paid for that?

Do you remember what the diagnosis was? My insurance doesn't cover anything related to obesity (but it covers the surgery itself, which is just wacky!)

Let me know what you find out - iirc, we have the same insurance. :) I know for NUT and PT, insurance covered it.  I assumed insurance will also cover everything else, too - but I'll need to get referrals (which reminds me, I need to do that 'cause I have everything this Friday!) I have no diagnostic codes for ekg, upper gi and chest xray, but have them written down on the blood work sheet....

Hi Jenn,     Well, here's what we did so far.  Nancy at PRH told me to have my PCP use the code for morbid obestiy and whatever of my co-morbidity diagnoses applied.  For the chest xray and my PCP used a pre-op testing code and my MO code.  The rest we thought ought to be fine cuz I have a ton of co-morbidities.  I just think the whole situation is kind of weird.  With my back problems, my PCP referred me to the spine surgeon.  My spine surgeon then ordered my pre-op testing.  Why is this done differently?  My PCP gave me a referral to the bariatric program so why is my PCP now having to order and code all this testing?  It as though the bariatric program wants the testing done but doesn't have the authority to order it.  I wonder why that is so.  Well, its in the works now so we'll see how it goes from here.  I'll let you know if I get a bill!  Treading