Blue Cross Blue Shield - can't go to groveport, OH barix clinic

Hello!  Great to be here.  This is my first visit here!

I'm just starting the process of weight loss surgery.  I'm pretty sure I want to do it, but I need to find a good doctor first. 

I was hoping to get some referrals from you all that live in Ohio.  I'm about an hour east of columbus.

I was wanting to go to the Barix Clinic in Groveport, OH.  It sounded like a good place and they are close to where I live.  But, I talked to them today on the phone and she told me that with Blue Cross Blue Shield they will only cover the surgery if you go to their facility in Michigan!  That is a four hour drive for me one way and she told me it would be about six visits!

Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks!
Tracy

 Would you mind if I asked what your BMI is?

Hello!

I'm 260 and 5' 4".

 ok, I was asking because if you BMI is high enough you are pre approved through barix in MI if you have bcbs.  Your bmi is not high enough for that.  sorry...
was hoping to get you some good news

 I went to Barix in Groveport and had Blue Cross Blue Shield. I had to go to Michigan for my surgery and now I go to Groveport for follow up care for my Lap-Band (fills and unfills). I don't know why but this is what they told me at Barix, I was just happy at the time to be approved for surgey so I went to MI. If I had it to do over I would have went to Dr. Tracy Curry in Cincinnati. The Barix Clinc has had all of the doctors change in the year and half I have been going there. I have had 3 different doctors.

So, your insurance allowed you to have everything done at the Groveport facility, except the surgery then?  The woman I talked to just said that I had to do everything at the Michigan facility.

I've heard very good things about Dr. Curry.  Does he do the gastric bypass too?  I'm not sure I want to go the Lap-band route.  I still need to read up and learn about all the different procedures though.

Thanks!
Tracy

I'm actually doing the same thing as well. I have to get my surgery in MI because Groveport will not BCBS. I don't mind it. I like Dr. Poplawski. I'm an hour east of Columbus too, so It's a drive for me.

Best of luck,

Whitney

I only had to visit MI 2 times. 1 time for pre-op test and then for surgery.  I love Dr. Poplawski he did my surgery.  Dr. Custer from Groveport does my follow up. He is nice. But like I said I am not happy that he is my 3rd doctor in Groveport.
Dr. Curry does RNY and many other surgerys. I am doing OK but I wish I would have went to him and gotten the sleeve. To much maintenance with the band. I drive an hour and 45 mins to Groveport.
Good Luck and let us know how things go.

I honestly wouldn't trust Barix.  They closed several facilities and left their patients high and dry without heping to refer to other docs.