Does anyone know of a Doctor who takes TennCare Medcaid?

Greetings one and all, My name is Tina and I am looking for a Doctor that takes Tenncare Medcaid, other wise known as state insurance.. I weight 277 and my doctors have already signed papers and sent them in to TennCare and I have been approved for surgury.. But my major problem is what doctor takes TennCare Medcaid.. I was on a list for Dr.Boyce of Parkwest. Only to have him remove all TennCare Medcaid clients from his surgery list, because of Gov. Brenson messing with the TennCare Medcaid insurance. I was removed and not even told about it for six months.. When I call to see what number I was on the list, I was then told. I was totally ashame to having had my hopes up. I have learned a long time ago that hopes are for poeple who are smaller and have all of the money.. Well I do believe that I will not dream of being able to tie my shoes without help or being able to have my medcation reduce or cut out, because I do not need them anymore.. Those are dreams that I will not see come true..I can only wish and that will make me a fool again.. Please if anyone knows of a doctor that does the weight loss that is good and takes TennCare Medcaid a state insurance, Please let me know? Waiting to know, Tina of knoxville Tennessee

Tina, Look on the back of your medicade card, call customer service and askfor a case manager. One will be assigned to you. They will contact you within 48 hours. They will give you names of surgeons who accepts the insurance. Some may not at this time because of the uproar and the cutbacks. Let them know you have been approved thru the state for the surgery that you need a Dr. who will accept medicade. You aren't alone in this. BUT IF YOU JUST GIVE UP, I'LL FIND YOU AND SPANK YOU. Never give up on a dream and never give up hoping. I have been at this for over two and a half years, 11 denials, and when I found out in July that I have leukemia I knew I would never have the surgery. But Dr. Colquitt in Maryville (Premeir Surgicals) has agreed to do my surgery providing my Oncologist agrees. I see him again for my weigh in on Nov. 8 and to finalize everything. I am also with medicade but I also have medicare. So since he will be billing both, you might want to contact his office. Here's his number 865-984-3413. You call them, and ask them to take you as a patient, be up front with Kim and let her know you have already been prior approved by TN Medicade for the surgery. Let them know who your case manager is and keep in touch with your case manager. This person will call you every month for up to a year or until you no longer need this person. Stay with this, not for us, but for yourself. I could easily have given up several times over. But I wouldn't be hurting anyone but myself. I cried when I found out about the leukemia, I felt despare, and pain so intense it would have been easy to just check out of this life. I wouldn't be hurting myself but my parents, my sons, and my 2 baby grandsons would never know me. I was ready to give up in July. But even when I asked the oncologist I was seeing about having a bone marrow transplant, he said no because of my other health problems. When I asked about having this surgery, he said no. I sought another opinion. I see a female Oncologist who is a major part of my life. My white blood cells went from 50,000 back to normal, just being on chemo pills at bedtime. She gladly wrote up her report and sent it to Dr. Colquitt. With the understanding that even while I'm in the hospital, I am not to miss one day with out my chemo pill. If I go off the pill, my white cells will go sky high and I would be in major danger. I gave up hope, she brought hope back to me. About a year maybe less after surgery, she will decide if I can handle a bone marrow transplant. Tina, there is always hope, and don't forget, God is always with us thru the bad and the good. Trust him to help you find the right surgeon. I forgot to do that. Almost 3 years ago, my lung dr. said I needed to lose weight and fast or I would die. He recommended Dr. Colquitt. I called and found out that at that time he wasn't taking medicare patients and charged $3000 up front for life time maintenance. I'm sorry but social security doesn't pay that well. I started searching other surgeons, no luck, even out of state. Last November I made an appointment with Dr. Colquitt just to see if he thought I was a good candidate. He's quiet but a very pleasant person. I didn't have the money to register. Oh, that's $200 to register with him or his partner Dr. Ray online. When you go for the consult appointment you pay another $300 and that's all you pay. So I kept looking and making a lot of phone calls. I travelled to Nashville, to West Virginia in March, and every time, I felt drawn back to Dr. Colquitt. In June I attended their seminar, and registered. I was to have my consult in July, but of course I just found out I had a rare form of Leukemia, it was rescheduled for August, I put it off again as I had to have a hip biopsy done to determine what type of leukemia I had. I saw him in Sept. just after my birthday, I asked him about it and actually asked "are you saying you will do my surgery?" He said yes but only if my Oncologist sent him a report and agreed. I saw her on Oct. 18, and right now, I'm waiting for someone to pinch me so I'll know I'm not dreaming. Please Tina, don't give up, fight for what you want and for what you need and that's a healthier life. I am diabetic, but for some reason the chemo pill keeps my sugar in the normal or low range. I'm not having to eat every 2-3 hours to keep my sugar from dropping. Today I had a piece of toast and that was over 12 hours ago. About 1am I made some tuna, and just ate it without the bread. I am totally full. For some reason I don't get shakey now, or the feeling of passing out. Maybe the chemo pill I have to take, has helped the diabetic problem I have. Please keep in touch with us, we're here to help, to encourage, to pray for you, and to offer our support. May God travel with you on your journey. kathy

Dr. Boyce is taking Tenncare pts once again, they received authorization once again to take them. There was a hearing where Tenncare was trying to stop paying for WLS surgerys but it was decided to continue to allow them. Just call Dr. Boyce's office. The only way to get a "list" of who does WLS in your network (that I know of) is to have your PCP call your insurance (not Tenncare but your actual insurance) and have him/her ask who's in your network for bariactric surgery. I tried to get this list myself (and eventually found out that Dr. Boyce was the only one for PHP in the network) but they told me it (the list) was only available to providers. Good luck!

Dear William, I have been through a lot. I called TennCare and they faxed me a list of surgeons who does Bariactric surgery I then took it to my doctor's office three times. It took a lot for my PCP to back me. It only took place because my Female doctor told me that this surgery is for poeple like me and I am in need of it. Well I was called by one of his nurses at his office. She left a message on my machine and It said you have been approve but we can not find you a doctor to do the surgery. I felt really bad but I was pushed by my mother who watched me over the two years trying to get the backing by my other doctors. We sat down and called over twenty hositpals. And I called Dr.Boyce a second to the last.. Only to have him do that to patients. I then went to Blount Hositpal doctors at that time. They wanted 500.oo put down.. I do not have that money to put down at one time. I think I will try Dr.Boyce again and talk to him or someone at his office and see what I need with me. Thank you for your help. I hope that your surgery is a good one. Tina

Dear Kathy, I am surprise that you are so even temper with all that is going on in your life.. I would like to thank you for your words of encouragement. And I hope that surgery helps you a lot. I hope that you start feel right as rain. I will take your advice on doctors and hang in there. With Poly cystic ovary syndrome you stay hungry all the time. I feel at times that I could take off a leg, but I do not let myself,the hungry is so great. Every now and then I do let myself get the munchies. I only take a little of this and that.. But I have to start all over again. My doctor told me, she was surprise I've kept it under control and only snack out about once a week or every two weeks. I just feel like I am a puppy being kick. You know on the outside looking in,as poeple eat more than you, enjoying thierselves.. Sometimes it really gets to me. I spent most of my twenties on diets and my teens on diets. I just wish I had fun like the rest of those smaller poeple. Well one day I will be able to move with ease and have fun too. I am going to try to keep my chin up.. and think postive. I do so hope you all the best. Thank you, Tina

Tina, Kathy definitely has a testimony and has been through a lot. The fact that she continues to fight no matter what's thrown her way is motivation for everyone. You have remain strong and fight for what you want. You are deserving and hopes and dreams are all we have. Pray about it. Have faith. You can accomplish your desires to tie your shoes, decrease your meds, or stop them all together. We all deserve a healthier happier life. But sometimes you have to work for what you deserve. Again, hang in there! Lisa

Tina, Dr. Scot****son in Johnson City takes Tenn/care blue cross medicade Ins. That is what I have and they will take your Ins. You will need your PCP to give you a referral to his Office. Sam