help asap :/ idk if the original was posted! Sry

rose_b19
on 4/20/11 10:14 am
Hello Everyone,
My name is Rosalia. I am located in Tacoma. WA.
I am very much interested in getting the Lapband implanted, I just do not know how to start this whole process. My insurance is Tricare Prime, my father recently just retired from the miltary last year, so we no longer have our general appointments at the MTF (Military Hospital) now we go to Multicare Northshore Clinic, in Tacoma. We would still get all our surgeries/ any prescriptions on base. People are saying I need to get a referral from my PCM but I really don't know what that is :/ to be honest. Would I just make an appointment with my Family Doctor to get her approval, so she can put in a referral for me? I don't know guys I'm really lost and I really want this more than anything. Please help. (:
Also, my co-morbidity would be PCOS, since I was diagnosed with it at the beginning of January.
(deactivated member)
on 4/20/11 10:31 am - San Diego, CA
Welcome to the boards!  Yes, you should contact your primary care physician and make an appointment to discuss it.  Express to him/her your interest in the lap-band procedure and that you think you would be a good candidate.  At that point, they should (hopefully) refer you to a surgeon in your network.  Thereafter, you can expect to have to attend an educational seminar with the surgeon.  If you still want to proceed, you will then have a one-on-one appointment with the surgeon, where he will discuss your particular situation and possibly may even order labs & other tests that day.  Once all the data/labs/testing is gathered, the surgeon will submit the insurance request to your provider.  Once approved (again, hopefully), they will set a date for your surgery.

Hope this helps and good luck!

tmal66
on 4/20/11 11:11 am - Aurora, CO
I also have Tricare.  Go to your PCP.  They will send a referral to Tricare.  You will then go to meet a surgeon that accepts Tricare.  You have to go to a nutritional class (not paid for by Ins) and a Psych eval.   Once the surgeons office has all this info, they will send it to Tricare for approval.  If you can find a non-military surgeon, I would go with them instead of the military docs, more experience.  Good luck.
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