UHC(SHBP News)

Hey my fellow Georgians as of this morning..I was informed by Executive Director Shelly Spar @ UBH that 6 months of psych eval is NOT required if you receive site clearance letter from psych before that 6month period. This decision has come after much frustration from many UHC WLS participants I was told that case mgrs @ UHC and clinical supports @ UBH are meeting this morning about  the decision and letters will soon go out to all participants of  UHC(SHBP) Any WLS support groups would satisfy as additives just be sure to give names of group facilitators.

To find our more information about this new decision Shelly Spar's # is (404)842-7442. Hope this helps many of you and help you to move forward with your WLS process. It sure made me feeel good.....

So, if you have your pre-eval and the doc says there are no problems we don't have to go for the 6 months of counseling? I have had my pre-eval and was going today for my first visit. I don't want to drive an hour for something I don't have to do.

Ravenhaven....I received my clearance letter from the psychologist and this clearance came after 1 visit..I was deemed psychologically sound to move forward with the next process. I would say YES you still need to go see the psych and let him determine your assessment. I took various test and did my clinical interview in one visit.

the thing is if you receive a "clearance" letter before 6months then you should be good...support groups are encouraged however to go along with this.

I did my psych evaluation and clinical interview in one visit also back in January. I was also deemed psychologically sound to continue. Now all I need is a letter from him and I shouldn't have to go to anymore visits, is this correct? If I get my clearance letter now before I start the other sessions that should work? Are they requiring support groups now instead of the counseling or are they just a suggestion. It is hard to keep this straight. They seem to keep changing things.

Well you know I did an appeal to the SHBP regarding this b/c I had my letter yet I was being told by UHC that the SHBP STILL needed 6months of psych documentation...which to me didn't make since I had a "hall pass"..lol in hand. So like I said call the number I have listed above..she's the lady  that called me in reference to my letter being accpeted.

Plus be looking for that letter in the mail regarding this decision.

Let me know how things go....

oh yeah as for the support groups...my surgeon requires at least two so this would be documented as well in my submittal to the insurance company.

Yes they were suggested...most of these are free.

 this is why I was trying to get a group together!  I found this out last week...well, two mondays ago and I posted it on a thread but I guess neither of yall saw it.  They keep changing up the requirements, so you really have to stay on top of it.  It really helps to have someone to compare notes with.

best of luck.

Yes I saw your thread Zabs...but remember I had my clearance letter "in hand" so for me it was a little personal and I wanted it cleared up....so I got my answer and Shelly asked if I would share with all who possibly had this plan and of course I thought about  the Georgia Weight Loss Forum...it's all good..where one may not understand one they may understand another...

hey Alfreda

I too heard this information last week. I spoke with Shelly on this matter last Monday and she stated everything that you just stated. However if you are anyone else have a more clear understanding of the 6 support group meetings please post it. B/c I was told that it have to be 1 support meeting a month for 6 months. (I think that is bull$@!t .)I want to know if UBH will be ok with completing 6 meetings at anytime thur the process. B/c they just don't seem to have it together and they seem to be making this stuff up as they go alone.I for one had already completed  1 of my counseling visits in additonal to having a clearance to my psych eval (which I did in the end of 2008.) So I ask her will they make that count she stated yes. Well the only problem with that is that I also completed a support meeting also in that month(yes the same month). I talk with Zab and Rita almost everyday about this. And I am glad I do, b/c without them and of course some others on here, I will be lost. Anyway if someone call UBH today about this matter please get a clear understanding on what they want with the support groups.

Thank in adavance and Thanks Alfreda for posting this!

Hey Izzy..yeah the support group meeting sounded more "suggestive"..what she did say was make sure you get the facilitators name for documentation. With my surgeon he requires 2 of his  own support group sessions....so I know for sure that I will do those two....as I hear anything else I will be sure to post.

But no Shelly @ UBH did not list a certain amt of support groups that we must attend she just said they would count.