Angry as all get out !
If you were approved all that time maybe you can still have it done. If they aren't doing any this year, that could mean that they aren't doing any new approvals............ and yours is grandfathered in........ just have your surgeon try submitting a date amendment for the approval that you already have........... and see what happens, it won't cost you anything. If they suddenly deny you threaten to get a lawyer, and tell them that you accepted their approval on good faith, and are surprised that their word means nothing.