Thanks to all, and new info that could be useful

Thanks to everyone who was so gracious in replying to my earlier questions. I'm sure I'll have many more. FWIW, I confirmed with Regence BC/BS yesterday that PEBB members are now covered for the lap band. I also called my local hospital's bariatric center, Good Samaritan in Corvallis, and asked if they were pursuing a Center of Excellence designation. They said they were, and expect to hear a confirmation any day now. So that's good news for us mid-valley folks! nancy

Nancy - if you're going to wait on your local hospital, be prepared to wait months to a year. I heard the very same thing from the Oregon Bariatric Center in Eugene. They started telling me "any day now" back in August of 2006. They still do not have their certification. If you expect to have this done within the next few months, my advice is to head to Portland. Linda

Congratulations on starting on the path to better health. Like Linda, I started waiting last July for OBC in Eugene to be a Center of Excellence. They would tell me monthly that it was close, probably at the end of the month. By November, I was tired of that and sorry I had waited so long. I wish I had gone to OHSU last August, and by now, I would have been on the other side. I would have loved to have everything done at OBC (I can see Sacred Heart from my office), but it just isn't going to happen. Good luck! Bil