MEDICARE-How many months medically supervised diet?

Hi everyone! I have been AWOL the last few weeks. I have been very busy fighting with my insurance company Independance Blue Cross Blue Shield to get a revision from a vertical banded gsatroplasty to a duodenal switch. I was denied initally right off the bat. I filed an appeal and that was denied. It looks like the insurance policy is iron clad when it comes to revisions for any reason as an exclusion. 
So...I am going to try with medicare part A and Part B. I have everything in place except a medically supervised diet. Does anyone know how many months MEDICARE requires of a medically supervised diet? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
*I would like to take this time to all who helped with with kinds words, encouragement and information during the process. It has been very hard on me.

*Also posting on DS and insurance boards. Really need an answer on this one.

medicare requires a 6 month MSD "with no significant gaps" plus one co-morbid condition Good luck! Bonnie

I have Medicare and was not required to go on any MSD.  Plus I don't see that MSD requirement in the CMS Manual System Pub 100-03 Medicare National Coverage Determinations Transmittal 54 dated April 28 2006. Some surgeons' offices require patients to go on MSDs even when their insurance policies don't.  Mine didn't.

The previous poster must have had a Medically supervised diet in her medical records--some PCPs have a box they check off that says diet/exercise counselling, etc. Records like LA weight loss can satisfy the requirement too. I cannot be sure without looking at the records. I can promise it is a requirement, I get people approved for surgery all day long at a bariatric surgeon's office. If that doc did not require one or find one in her records it is FRAUD! Medicare does not require submission of all the info, it's on the docs backs to make sure the patient meets the criteria, Medicare will only ever find out in an audit. If a doc chooses to do the surgery without meeting all the requirements of Medicare--he'd better hope he doesn't get audited! I wish I had the actual requirement with me at home, it's at work with all my other insurance reqs. What the hell do I know anyway----I just do it for a living! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never had any MSD in my life. I can promise you that Medicare DOES NOT require a MSD for any WLS.  When my NP told me last year that Medicare doesn't require a MSD, I was skeptical enough to review that publication that I mentioned in my earlier thread.  Then I called Medicare on two separate occasions to get the same reply that Medicare does not require any MSD for any WLS anywhere in the United States. Not a good idea to take work home with you. Looks to me like it's your clinic that requires the MSD.

Ok, I'm super glad you know about my clinic! Thanks so much for your update! Best wishes! Bonnie

I have heard some insurances or Dr's offices require 6 months.  I had a Lap Band placed 22 months ago and Medicare paid for it and I did not have to do a MSD and I do not have one in my history either, it was never even mentioned or brought up, I did all my testing and had my surgery.  I am wondering if it may depend on if you have Health Issues or not and maybe what your starting weight is?   I know it varies across the board, I have seen alot of people have to have one and then other have not had too.  Who knows what the insurances requirements are, I use to work for BCBS and they were changing all the time.