ATTENDED DR. DENNIS SMITH'S SEMINAR TODAY
THERE WERE A FEW OTHER SHBP MEMBERS THERE. I HEARD FROM SOMEONE, SHBP WILL COVER SURGERY AT HIS OFFICE AS AN OUT OF NETWORK PROCEDURE. THIS ISN'T OFFICIAL, BUT I AM HOPEFUL IT IS TRUE. GUESS I'LL MAKE A CALL TO CIGNA TOMORROW AND CHECK ON IT.
I ALSO LEARNED THEIR HOSPITAL ROOMS ARE NOT PRIVATE. WHO WANTS TO BE IN A ROOM WITH A STRANGER AFTER SURGERY??? THAT WOULD BE SO UNPLEASANT. THEY DID SAY YOU CAN UPGRADE TO PRIVATE FOR $30 PER NIGHT WHICH ISN'T SO BAD. I WILL DEFINITELY BE UPGRADING TO A PRIVATE ROOM WHEREVER I HAVE THE SURGERY.
I GUESS I REALLY DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING NEW ABOUT ANY PROCEDURES, SINCE IT SEEMS LIKE I LIVE, EAT, AND SLEEP WLS LATELY. I PROBABLY COULDA FACILITATED THE MEETING. I DID GET A GOOD VIBE FROM THE 2 STAFF MEMBERS THERE, AND WOULD FEEL BLESSED IF HE COULD DO MY DS.
NOTE TO EVERYBODY!!!! DO NOT BRING YOUR BAD AZZED KIDS TO A SEMINAR OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS MEETING. THIS LADY BROUGHT HER TODDLER SON TO THE SEMINAR AND HE WHINED AND CRIED TIL I GUESS SHE GOT THE PICTURE AND TOOK HIM HOME. NOW, I'M A SINGLE MOM, AND I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO GET A SITTER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE HAD THE NERVE!!! ADD THAT TO MY LIST OF PET PEEVES. LOL.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I 
MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
http://emoryjohnscreekvideo.blogspot.com/2008/10/christopher -hart-md-medical-director-of.html
Check out Dr Hart. Im pretty sure that he offers it.
Good luck.
Ginger
Starting Weight: 325; Pre Surgery Weight: 314
Would not use any Dr, until I had met him and spent some time with him. 
Was there a reason given why he was not there?
My Dr also charged an program fee. But we were given a list of what it covered. Support groups with one of his nurses are included in this. They are held once a month and you can go forever. There are also other things that were covered by it. Just can't remember them all. Insurance did not cover this for me either. Not sure any would.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
There is several drs that charge a fee up front. Some charge it for insurance work to help get you approved. Then again there are SEVERAL OTHERS that DO NOT charge anything up front to do their job! I would continue my research and past the fact that he will do the surgery that you want is he a GOOD DR?? Does he have a GREAT RECORD? Research is the key! Good luck!!
G
Starting Weight: 325; Pre Surgery Weight: 314
I don't remember paying a $400 program fee. I think it was more like $200. He was not in network with my insurance. I had to pay $1650 before surgery plus $1000 for the doctor assisting him. Of course there were other fees like the Nutritionist was $90 plus lab fees, cardiologist, etc. etc. Most of the other fees were covered by insurance but I still had to pay my portion after insurance. Now that surgery is over I am getting bills from anesthesiologists, etc.
I paid the extra for the private room. It is only three nights so $90 was well worth it. I was treated very well in the hospital.
I also went to Dr. Maynard and was actually approved and had a surgery date a year ago but DeKalb Medical Center decided at the last minute to disallow open procedures. Dr. Maynard is very nice and really seems to care for his patients. Furthermore, he was in network with my insurance, but I decided that if the hospital did not think the open procedure was good maybe I should reconsider that myself.
Good luck and trust me, Dr. Smith is great!
Lookingup 
Pre Weight Loss 337
Pre Op 319
DS Surgery Oct. 23, 2008
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
