12-Month Medically Supervised Diet

I am sure that this question has probably been asked and answered at least 1000 times!  So I am going to ask again  ! 

I have been advised by my insurance company and surgeon's office that I must complete a 12-month physician monitored/medically supervised diet program.  I was on WW last year for about 8-months and lost about 40 pounds, only to regain.  However, I did not have the physician monitoring the progress on a monthly basis-darn my bad luck!  In July, I saw my PCP to explain that I was considering wls.  She referred me to a dietitian.  I have seen the dietitian monthly since July, 2009, but not the PCP. 

1.  Will the dietitian time count as medically supervised?  Do I have to have record of seeing BOTH to medically supervised?  Or does seeing the dietitian count towards medically supervised because the PCP can sign off on the dietitian records?
2.  What exactly does physician monitored/medically supervised mean?  I guess that my time at WW won't count because I didn't physically go see the dr. every month.  Is it possible to have the PCP go back and sign off on WW records?
3.  Does this 12-months have to be consecutive?  I have heard that it doesn't have to be and I have heard that it does have to be consecutive.  However, I cannot get anyone to give me the same answer twice!

Any insight that anyone has would be greatly appreciated.  I have been asking the questions with my insurance and surgeon's office only to get many different answers depending on the day.  It is frustrating as I want to do EXACTLY what I need to do to get approved, but I can't get an actual clarification on the requirements. 

Thanks for your time. 

What insurance do you have.I have never heard of 12 months supervised,6 or 3 months.Each visit also have to be consecutive and at least 3-4 wekks apart.

12 months is a bit extreme but the dietician visits should count but she must have taken very good notes and you must have weighed in every visit.  I do know that they do want it to be consecutive, I know someone that had to go back and add another month or two because she missed a month so they do want it to be consecutive.  All in all it all depends on your insurance company really so you might want to get a copy of their requirements to know for sure.  Good luck with everything and I hope you really dont have to have a 12 month supervised diet.  Keep us posted on how things go.

Thanks for the information.  I have BC/BS of South Carolina.  I am *hoping* that my dietitian time counts as the PCP did prescribe the diet to me.  I think that the 12-month is extreme too, but that is what all of the documents say.  At this point, my best hope is that I can have surgery next July or August.  I was hoping for January or February, but I guess I will have to wait. 

If you haven't already, call your insurance company and ask them EXACTLY what the plan states. Ask them to define it. Make sure you get the information (name, operator number, etc) from the person you talk to. Then ask them to send you a copy of your insurance plan benefits regarding bariatric surgery. It's valuable for both you and your surgeon to have. Dr. K's office, my GP, as well as myself have a copy of my insurance plan, stating EXACTLY what I must do... that way we're all on the same page. Ask them specifically if Weigh****chers will work, if you have all the documentation. There would be nothign more frustrating than going through the time and process of submission, thinking that will work and then being told "Nope!"

I have BCBS of MN. I have to have six months of Doc supervised visits. That means once a month I go in, get weighed, and we discuss the plan at hand. My time will be up at the end of Feb, beginning of March. For BCBS, that is the ONLY thing that counts. Not a dietician, not WW. Me and my GP.