I need help finding a doctor

Good point. when I go to the doctor next month i will bring print outs. I just really hope I can find a doctor by mid march because thats when me my medically documented weight loss thing will be over and I want to have the surgery as soon as possible afterwards.

You may have to appeal but lots of people have had to appeal for their DS, just be prepared for that. I hope your medicaid is better than what I have gone through. By the sounds of it you have a pro-WLS PCP :)

But if you can get a doctor on your side, saying the DS is the most medically necessary for you that is a good start! :)

I'm no expert in insurance so can't help you further. :/ I am just sharing what I have done in the past. I wish you the best of luck!

thank you so much :)

Be aware that if you are successful in getting the DS, you will have to educate nearly every health care professional you come in contact with, post-op. You will need to be able to understand the surgery in depth, so you can speak to the HCP's about the surgery in their own language.

It's not enough to just get a cursory, basic understanding of this surgery if you are able to find a doctor who will accept your insurance.  Obviuosly, the surgeon doing the surgery will understand, and the insurance specialists in his/her office will be familiar with the basic insurance requirements, but you will have to address your specific insurance regulations individually.

Working to get this surgery is very intense and time-consuming when it comes to working with insurance companies, and requires that you be very proactive to make sure all the insurance requirements are met.

Get your fine tooth comb ready, and prepare to become "anal"! 

All the "hoops" you have to jump through to get the surgery is good training for the intesity you will need to have every day as a post-op, for the rest of your life, in terms of addressing your needs with the medical community.

Good luck to you, and if you have questions you think I might be able to help you with, feel free to PM me. 

DSFacts has an emergency card that you can print out and customize with your informaition, and laminate, so that if you do have an emergency and are unable to speak, you will have the card,  It wiould also be a goodd Idea to get a Medic Alert bracelet andhave it engraved with your procedure and your surgeon's name and phone number, no matter which procedure you ultimately get

I am sure Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota would.  I had my DS with Dr. Kendrick.  They only thing is they make you go through a 12 week LEARN program, kind of a supervised diet.  If you Dr. refers you to Mayo for a medically needed proceedure, I am sure it should be covered.

would it be a issue if my medicaid is from another state (Alabama)? would the 12 week program be a replacement of the 6 month or do they both have to be done at the same time?

The 12 week program is Mayo's requirement.  I would think if your local doctor refers you to Mayo for this proceedure that is medically neccesary then it should be covered.  I would go to your PCP and have them refer you to somewhere that does the DS and then call medicaid and tell them that your doctor has refered you to this place for this proceedure that they can't perform.  Then ask medicaid if this would be covered as you are being instructed by your PCP to get this proceedure done for medical reasons.  Good luck.

thank you very much good sir I will try them

JOE:

OT: Do people tell you often that you look a lot like French Stewart?

No, never have but I would like to think I am just as funny.  Thanks