I need a patient advocate or advice

I'm having a small problem with my lap band. My surgeons stiches on the port came loose and his office doesn't think he should be responsible for fixing it because I was a cash pay patient and my "surgery was so deeply discounted, they won't cover the complication!" 

I'm just now hitting my 90 days post-op.

I need to talk with someone about my patient rights and the doctors responsibility in this fiasco.
Any and all ideas or advice welcome.

Hello-
Well, unfortunately, as a cash-pay patient, you officially have a 90 day global period in which time you should not be billed for any services. If you are past your 90 global period, technically & legally, the surgeon's office is well in their right to charge you for the care of that complication. However, since you are so close, you'd think that they would give you a bit of a break. I'd ask them if there is any way they can discount the service for you so that you can get it taken care of. If you need more help, I'd be happy to provide further advise, just email directly.

I work for a company that provides complication protection for self-pay patients, and would step in and pay your bills in a case like this one - which by the way happens more often than you think to other self-pay patients just like you. However, you have to have your surgery performed by one of our BLIS Surgeons in order to receive this benefit as this program cannot be bought individually by patients. If you have any friends or family member considering paying cash for weight loss surgery, please let them know of your experience and tell them they can protected from things like this if they use a BLIS Surgeon. You can find more information about BLIS on the right hand side of this forum or by clicking the link in my signature.

I wish you the best of luck! And please do not hesitate to contact me directly should you need further assistance.

Best,
Billie

Tiff...this sucks!!
Do you think they would negotiate with you???

Actually- I'm working both angles. I talked with the billing dept and the MD FINALLY!!! He apologized for not getting back to me sooner. It took me saying to the office staff that I had called the Colorado Medical Review board to get him to call me back. LOL!

He said he would crunch some numbers and get back to me on Monday when he was back in office. He was calling me from home- I could here the dog barking in the background so I know he was telling the truth. I'm not above begging and will ask if he will do this as a charity care case or something.

I was also going with a plan E and F if all falls through. Did I tell you that insurance denied any and all to do with my band? I'm going to ask Doctor #2 if they would be willing to do the repair as an educational session for all the staff as a considerable discount of course. Everything else so far with them as worked this way. Why not go all the way!

I think I'm delerious at this point....
But Brown in Denver gave me some great tricks to try at the next fill. I guess I'll be the one dictating how the appointment goes- ha!!! We're going to confirm if the port is flipped or not. If it's not, we're going to try some unique techniques. I have to give it up for Dr. Brown for sharing these tips with me.

It sound like you are doing all the right things.  There is negotiation possibility even in healthcare. Your surgeon needs to do the right thing in repairing this, and in all actuality it should be him that fixes it since he did the surgery. But back up plans are good and it sounds like you got it covered!!