Medicaids New Rules? and also?

Has anyone heard anything about Medicaids new rules for NY? My surgeons office said they are going to be making some changes as far as bariatric surgery goes. Does anyone know what they are yet? I went for my intake appt on Jan 11th. I went in to see the Dietician while I was there and she is making me keep a 3 weeks food diary. She wants to see some changes in the way I eat before she approves me for surgery. Has anyone else had to go through this? It's discouraging. 3 weeks seems like a long time to me. I mean. Why would she have me keep a diary? I could write that I was eating anything in that diary. I know the changes that I need to make! I know I have to change them after surgery. Any thoughts on how to change her mind or deal with better? Thanks so much for reading. It really means a lot to me that you care. Take Care Stephanie

Stephanie, I don't know anything about the new rules for Medicaid but I understand your discouragement with the dietitian. My nutritionist asked me to keep a diary for a month. It is for your benefit as well as theirs. It will not only tell them what, where,and how long you take to eat but also how you deal with the changes after the surgery. I made some of the changes after the seminar given by my doctor and still need to work on more. My nutritionist wanted to be sure that I can make the switch from eating too fast to taking 30 - 60 minutes to eat. The idea is if you can get in the habit of taking the time now it will make it easier after the surgery. It has been almost 10 days so far with my new food dairy and it seems to gone by fast. I just look at it as one more step you have to do and the time seems to go by fast. That is what works for me. Just know you are not alone. Have a good day. Burt

Hi Steph: This is Stephanie Wilcox in Syracuse. In reference to the food diary, its about control....us losing control or gaining control. I have a hard time with this food diary as well.....I have lost 12 lbs so far, did the journal for two weeks, I am still in the pre op stage, no date as of yet. I have some changing still to do before they approve anything for me I think. Let go of your control....for just a little while...go with what they tell you...its difficult, but when we get our smaller stomachs, you dont want to get sick, stretch your pouch, have life threatening injuries. They are telling us this stuff about the diary and things for a reason...I have a hard time following their instructions too....so I am writing to you, I am telling myself the same things. Know that you aren't alone. Keep your chin up, Stephanie Wilcox

Thank you so much for your words of encourgement. Steph. You are so right about the control thing. I want to have control over what I eat. I have had it for so long. Now some one else is trying to come along and change it. Well I just realized this. I'm not going to have control after surgery either. Thanks for the reality check. I needed it.

I am going through Medicaid as well...I would like to know their new rules for I have not heard anything about this yet. I have my forst meeting with my surgeon on January 28th and I do not wqant to get my hopes up if my insurance is suddenly going to be a stickler! I have been keeping a food diary since September.