Frustrated and need help!!

I've never posted to the board before I just normally lurk. I'm very frustrated right now and wanted some opinions on how I should handle this.

This is a long one!! Ok I have Aetna Choice POS II which requirements are either 6 months with my primary doctor or 3 months surgical preparatory regimen with the 4 dietician visits, 2 surgeon visits and my Psych eval. I went with the 3 months. I had plan on having my surgery with Dr.Nicholson and I used the Center (which is apart of the his office) I was referred to by the insurance coordinator for the dietician and Psych eval. Here is the problem!! I've done the Psych visit, 3 of my dietician visits and had the final one scheduled for this coming Tuesday. Well I called the yesterday because I had a question about the presurgery diet I had gotten from the dietician last month that I have started. ***I GET A RECORDING SAYING THEY HAVE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS!!*** WTH!!..So at this point I'm pissed because I haven't received a call from anybody telling me anything. I called the insurance coordinator and she was like yeah they did go out of business I had planned on letting you know I just hadn't gotten around too it. I'm thinking to myself isn't that something you let people know ASAP with appointments already set. Mind you the center didn't take insurance so I have been paying for everything out of pocket because again I want to go to the people that work directly for the surgeon. Well the coordinator let me know she would call to try and get my records if she could get ahold of them(which I'm still waiting on a call back). Then she would refer me to another dietician but she probably won't be able to see me next week. WTF!! I had plans to be done by Tuesday and have my last scheduled visit with the surgeon's assistant on Wednesday. Now I don't know what to do. I've taken time off next week from work. At this point I would really rather use another surgeon but my insurance is saying if I switched it would delay the process so I'm pretty much stuck. I wanted to be done with everything next week and have my paperwork submitted to the insurance company. I spoke with the insurance company yesterday and was told it would take anywhere from a day to 2 weeks. Depends on the case loads they had but she said that it was running only a few days right now. I've done everything I've needed to do on my end and even started the presurgery liquid diet to get myself prepared. I found a dietician that can get me in on Tuesday and my insurance will pay for this visit. But if she can't get my records in time and give me a referral I'm screwed. My goal was to have my surgery around Thanksgiving. I know I shouldn't have a problem getting approved because of my previous and current BMI being so high and me only being 4"11. I just don't know what to do at this point. I need some opinions if this has ever happened to anybody and what did you do??

 

Ok....duh....I spotted the RNY right after hitting submit...LOL!

Did I miss which surgery you are having?
If so....which type?

If you are having problems now, I'd seriously consider switching docs because the follow-up stuff is a crucial as the surgery itself.  Aetna is only as slow as you let them be...if you are just changing docs it shouldn't affect their approval anyway.  I got approval paperwork for my surgery and it had my doc's partner's name on it.  I immediately called his office and said...UM NOOOOOOOOO.  They told me EVERYTHING would have to be resubmitted and I'd have to wait wait wait.  That made NO SENSE to me.  I called the insurance co and they said a doc change is just a name change once the procedure is approved.
As long as it's still a doc on your plan you should be fine!

That being said...I love love love my doc if you are looking for an awesome lapband doc!  If I were to do bypass today, I'd go with Dr. Provost.  That's who I recommended to my MIL because he fixes everyone elses screwups.

GLGL!!  Go with your instincts...they're rarely wrong.

Dito what Kris said.  Change doctors!!  You have to completely trust the entire office and not just the doctor.  The staff is who you'll spend a majority of your time with and if you can't depend on them for something so trivial as a phone call and a transfer of records how can you depend on them for accurate medical information and follow up care.  I'd get on the phone right now and start making appointments elsewhere, getting copies of your records and planning to visit new offices/docs next week while you're off work.

Thanks!!..I plan on having RNY. I'm going to have to switch. I'm waiting for the office to open up now. I'm just upset with the way they are handling things. I feel like I'm not important but if you wanting my business then you would be doing a better job. I don't understand why my records from the dietician were not sent over to them when the clinic went out of business. For you to have to call and try and get my records from people you let go is suspect to me. I just want to complete my last required visit for my insurance and get things rolling. I waiting patiently now for them to open so I can give them a piece of my mind. This is my life and my health I'm taking this very serious. Thanks for you responses.

Hi!
I'm so sorry this is happening to you- that bites big time! I guess the best advise I can offer is to be patient but proactive. This WILL happen- it just might be delayed a little bit longer than you wanted.

I too would change dr's. Even if they amend everything going on right now, could you truly feel comfortable with the office now? You are putting your life in their hands- that's not a proposition to be taken lightly.

Everything happens for a reason, and we don't usually know why, but I feel like maybe this happening now is saving you grief down the road. If the office isn't communicating now I'd hate to think what could happen after surgery. What if you did have a problem...even a minor one?

Please keep us posted and stop lurking. You are a welcome addition to the WLS community and I would love to hear all about your journey. The GOOD stuff is just around the corner!!! I want to hear about your successes!!! Praying for you!

Good luck!
Tracey

Thank you!!...I finally got ahold of someone from the office this morning. I spent all morning calling. I was told even though the clinic went out of business they got ahold of the dietician and she said she already has a confirmed appointment with me for Tuesday. I explain to the person at the office I was never notified of anything. I knew we had a scheduled appointment but when I called the office and the recording said they went out of business I was thinking the appointment wasn't going to happen. She assured me the dietician said she would come to the office to Tuesday for me. Needless to say the communication with them SUCKS!! So it looks like my prays are still being answered. I was told after my surgeon visit on Wed. my paper work would be faxed to Aetna. I'm excited and grateful God answered my prays. I will keep you posted. I will still probably end up switching surgeons once I'm approved. Pray for me that I get that letter of approval in the mail soon.