Not a happy camper!!!!

Okay so I went to the seminar for USC on sat. and talked to evil Dr. Katkhouda about DS. He informed me that he would put me in touch with Dr. Crookes because he is currently not accepting any new patients. Called his office like three times today to see if he will accept me as his last patient. The answer is NO. He is not accepting any new patients. I argued and argued until I was blue in the face and of course exhausted because Dr. K assured me he will put me in with Dr. Crookes.

Now I have to go back to the drawing boards. His office suggested Dr. Keshishian. I would love Dr. K to do my surgery as I have heard nothing but great things from him but by golly his program fee is out of my range. I have two little ones, go to school full-time, and my husband is the only bread winner. I just don't know what to do. I fought my medical group extremely hard to get this far and it seems that I have hit another brick wall. I was planning to push to have my surgery before I head back to school this fall but gosh that may not happen since I have to go through all of the obstacles my pcp and medical group throws my way because they are uninformed. Any help or suggestions would be real nice right now. Heck maybe even some encouragement will help. Because I am fighting back tears so bad. I hate being defeated.

How much is the program fee? I'm just curious. I didn't have to pay one. 

Is financing through one of those medical financing companies an option?

Will they let you make payments- some up front an some later?

Hang in there. There has to be a solution for you... I bet the others will know. 

Big hugs!

I don't know these answers today bit tomorrow I will be finding out... I will keep you posted. I am going to try for credit but I hate using credit so bad.

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I am self-pay through Dr. Stewart in Texas. He didn't make me go through any program, but he has made others go through it. I assume (but have no verification) that he didn't make me go through a program because I already did a 3-month diet with my primary care physician. That might be an option for you - go through a "program" with your PCP instead. Just a thought. There is likely a way around the high program fees. Good luck!

I have heard Dr K's program fee is in the $3000 range.  That is just hearsay.  I had to pay a $350 fee with Dr Stewart. Plus $1600 for my part of the surgery.  Dr Stewart was paid around $50,000 through my insurance company for him and his NP to do my surgery not counting the hospital.

I truly would say go to Dr Keshishian if at all possible. He will call you back if you get into an issue.  His follow through is excellent.

 

Dr. Keshishian's program fee is $3,000, but it covers the next 2 years post op visits.  Many times your insurance will not continue to pay for follow up long term, they refer you back to your PCP.  At least this way you get to have Dr. Keshishian following you for 2 years, and he will be available to you whenever you need him.  He is very responsive.  The office has financing options, through Care Credit and another one.  Go to Dr. K's website, www.dssurgery.com  and you will find tons of information.  They have a section on financing options.  I really like him, his bedside manner and his office staff.  I don't think you will be disappointed.  Maybe this will turn out to be a blessing!

It is hard handing over that $3,000, I just went to his office and submitted my program fee today!

 

I will have to call his office in the morning and see if I can get the ball rolling.

ya I am not big on what drs call program fees.  i was a revision ds patient and no one wanted me due to my esophogus being so damaged, ...so i had to fly for my ds revision nightmare.....either go to dr k or find another dr who doesn't have a program fee, yes they are out there, you are not a revision so you should be able to find a surgeon..who is on the ds dr list, whatever you do don't use a ds surgeon who is not on the ds vet list.....good luck to you

I'm sorry things didn't work out with Dr. Crookes, and sorry to learn he is not accepting new patients.

Dr. Keshishian is one of the best DS surgeons around. the "program fee" is intended to make up for the crappy compensation he gets from insurers. I don't like it either, and it's definitely a barrier for some people, but it's a reflection of how insurance companies work.

I hope you will find a way to pay the program fee, as the quality of surgery and care you get will be worth the effort. If it means holding off for awhile while you save your pennies, then that's what you need to do. Or getting a loan - I hate credit and oweing money too, so I understand where you're coming from, but sometimes that's the right thing to do.

Larra

And I forgot to say earlier, whatever happens, don't give up on your dreams. There are often bumps in the road in this process, and sometimes it seems like one step forward and 2 steps back, but you CAN prevail if you don't give up.

Larra