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Hey Dee,
You went to Bolton Burke too? Really? Around what time. I went there steady from about July 1996 to January 1997 and then on and off for the next several years. You know in the earlier years I suspect they were giving us Phen-Phen, although they would NEVER admit to that. But when I first went to them, I lost 60 pounds in like 5 months and then when the Phen-Phen scare became public, suddenly the medication changed, it became less effective, and their "direction" switched to "behavior modification" techniques.
Anyway, I didn't check to see what insurance you have but I have Aetna and they wanted details and proof and paperwork up the wazoo so I got as much documentation as possible. Since Aetna required proof of medically supervised weight-loss, I went to Bolton Burke and asked Dr. Taveras to sign my letter. I didn't ask him to WRITE one --- nope, I had one already done and all he had to do is review it for accuracy and sign it.
If you want, I may still have that letter on file somewhere and I can send it to you for reference.
Hi Renee,
I went to Bolton Burke from 1997 through 2001. I liked the doctor that retired and went off and on after he left. I think you're right about the Phen-Phen because I lost a lot of weight when I first went to them and then suddenly the pills didn't work as well. Of course, every week it was a different set of pills.
I called them this morning and left a message to be called back. No one has so far. I would love to get a copy of your letter please send it to me at [email protected]. That was smart the way you did it with him only having to sign the letter. I have Cigna and they require six months of documented weight loss. However, I want to send them as much documentation as possible.
Thanks.
Wow, I may have seen you in there. Who knows? Small world.
Anyway, I will send you the letter that I made up for Dr. Taveras to sign. (Yeah, I liked the older guy that retired too. I can't remember his name but he was sweet).
Make sure that you also get a list of the medications they prescribed you. They gave me a handwritten list and I retyped it for my insurance. I will send that to you as well.
Finally, make the nurse make you a copy of your chart. All of that may be needed to prove that you have been on a supervised weight loss program that last MORE than 6 months - but that regardless of that, the weight came back.
I'm not sure if this will be necessary for you but I know that just for the hell of it, I went back to Bolton Burke for two visits and then told Dr. Taveras that I was going ahead with the surgery. I made it seem as if I was coming back to Bolton Burke to lose a few pounds before I had the surgery to make it easier on me and to shrink the size of my liver. I explained to him that I was going to need a letter from him and copies of my records in order to get insurance approval and I can tell that I was like one of the 1st patients he had that approached him for all this. He kept a copy of my letter for his own records because he anticipated that more patients may opt for weight loss surgery and he used my letter as a template.
Anyway, I can get long-winded here so let me just send you the docs and if you want to, you can email me at [email protected]. Take care!
(deactivated member)
on 5/18/05 2:22 am - MT
on 5/18/05 2:22 am - MT
Dee,
Welcome to the NY board hun and you will like it here...~hugs~ All is very nice and they ALL give awesome support......They will become like family, your new AMOS Family...
Keep us posted..
Debra P