my broken band

hi,    well let me start by saying my band is broke  and for the last year I have been to 2 surgeons.Anyhow  my first in colorado  because I was staying by my sister. Needless to say he said he didnt know for sure what would have to be done  till he gets in there.Then  my sis  kicks us out and we went  back to az   then I went  to a doc and he said all  he needs to do is fish the hose up and  cut a little bit off and then  put a new port in and I should be ok.  Both of these surgeons do not understand  what my port  is doing. When ever I strain  or reach too far  bend the wrong way lift anything  it like herniates  and I have to put my  hand over it and push in until the spasm  goes away  it is very  painful  my whole left side hurts. The tube is in my pelvis and so therefore depending on what kind of chair I sit in depends if I have discomfort. well now I had  to come back to wisconsin to take care of my mom and I figured I would go to Dr Chua  in milwaukee as he is the one who put the band in. Has anyone out there  had this problem ?/ Dr Chua said he has had 4 or 5 other patients with this problem. and he has been reconnecting  and then tieing it together also    But now I am trying to geton badger care and Dr Chuas  office tells me  that they have not been able to get any surgury  covered by them  not even a port revision  so what the hell am I supposed to do   walk around like this the rest of my life  I am not working because I am in too much discomfort  it is also  reeking havoc on my back  when I push on my port  I get a pain right in my back also  this really sucks   I  would sure like some input on  the insurance and if  anyone else has had this problem    I have gone from 273 to 166  and now 208  this  really stinks  so I am looking foreward  to hearing from anyone    I realize me moving around isnt good but I am here now for awhile   and  does anyone  know of a doctor close to me  I live in Fon Du Lac   and milwaukee  is a drive   there seems they should have one closer to me  thanks sue

HI there, You are correct, Badgercare will not cover this procedure.  You can Google Bariatric Surgery Badgercare and it will detail it for you, but I have copied and pasted the information for you below.  As for some place closer, there is Midwest Bariatric Center in Neenah. It might be a little closer to you. Dr. Georgen and Dr. Wasco and the surgons, and it is considered a center of excellence at Theda Clark Hospital.  You may want to give them a call?? Their officed staff is great.  You will probably have to look into self pay options as well. Perhaps have an office visit and get a detailed list of what will need to be done and the cost involved. I know that isn't what you were hoping to hear... but unfortunately it sounds like it may be the only option, unless you were to discuss the posibility of roux en y...in which case I don't know what badgercare would do considering you were previously morbidly obese. That would be something to find out from the insurance company.

Services That Are Not Covered

The following procedures for bariatric surgery

are not covered:

. 43845 (Gastric restrictive procedure with

partial gastrectomy, pylorus-preserving

duodenoileostomy and ileoileostomy [50 to

100 cm common channel] to limit

absorption [biliopancreatic diversion with

duodenal switch]).

. S2082 (Laparoscopy, surgical; gastric

restrictive procedure, adjustable gastric

band [includes placement of subcutaneous

port]).

. S2083 (Adjustment of gastric band

diameter via subcutaneous port by injection

or aspiration of saline).