Fresh Start Bariatrics at Riverside

Is there anyone else out there in "limbo" waiting for the insurance approval since the new doctor has come into the program?  I am curious as to what the staff is telling you.  I finished my 6 months of dietitian appointments almost 3 weeks ago and the staff has yet to submit my paperwork to the insurance because of a "snafu" with the new doc coming in and Dr. Myers leaving.  Is anyone else out there in the same boat?  have you given any thoughts to going else where?  I was wondering if we could have Dr. Myers still do the surgery in his new location, once he gets one, and not have this insurance hold up?

I would welcome anyone's thought and would appreciate any open dialogue because at this point I an having serious anxiety about possibly havingto do the 6 month requirement all over again.  Feeling frustrated and needing some encouragement!

Dr Myers is probably going out of state so he isn't an option.
What ever you decide, you won't have to re do the six months, if you decide to transfer you can have your records moved.
Why not come to the support group meeting on the 18th and meet the new doc before you decide what to do?

 I am sure that every thing will be fine and Dr. Sonnanstine, the new doctor, is great.  He did my RNY surgery at Georgetown, KY and if he checked on me one time in a day he checked 10.  OK maybe not that many but seemed like every time I looked up he was coming in the room.  He is worth the wait and I am sure it won't be long.  I know he is already doing surgery there, or at least I heard he was.  

We are aware that some Fresh Start Bariatrics patients have experienced a delay in the submission of their records to their insurance companies for pre-authorization of their planned surgery because of Dr. Myers' decision to leave the program.  Unfortunately, the program was unable to proceed with submitting these claims for pre-approval because Dr. Myers left the program before we were able to complete the process for Dr. Sonnanstine, our new surgeon, to be included as a participating provider with these insurance companies.  The program is committed to ensuring that this delay does not result in patients affected by this issue having to redo certain pre-surgical therapies.  The process for enrolling a new provider with an insurance carrier typically takes 45 to 60 days.  However, we are working diligently with the major insurance carriers to try to expedite this process.  As such, we anticipate that Dr. Sonnanstine will be fully enrolled with the major insurance carriers by October 24, 2011.  As soon as we receive confirmation that your insurance carrier's system has been updated to include Dr. Sonnanstine as a participating provider, we will submit your records.  Our insurance specialist will personally contact each of you once your records have been submitted.  We appreciate your patience through this transition. 

I attended the support group meeting this month and have to say I was impressed with Dr Sonnanstine. I think you all will be happy with the short wait during the transition.

I hope the new doctor treats his band patients better than Dr. Myers.  He was a total @$%hole to me.  My new surgeon gained a few new patients due to bad experiences with Dr. Myers.  He's an excellent surgeon, but not always patient friendly.

I think the band patients will be happy, when asked, he said, that the band patients know best if they need a fill or unfill, not him, and it is the patient that makes the choice. He was also not happy that there were no upper GIs done and no Iron tests done. My guess is that things are going to be much, much better.

I will say I am pretty disappointed with Dr, Sonnanstine right now...Though there was a time I had more respect for him than anyone my mind has changed quite a bit.   He did my husbands band, when he moved he said he would take care of him.  I have emailed two times with questions, he answered once.  My husband contacted his office and received no return call.  We have heard from another patient that had surgery a band placed in Ky. that when he went to see Dr. Sonnanstine for a fill he was charged nearly $400.00...when he called to question the bill he was then given a discount.  Times have certainly changed and I am sure he has too...
disappointed is all I can say.  He is a doctor, my husbands doctor, I am a abit angry about this whole situation.

 I have to disagree with Brenda, I have emailed Dr. Sonnanstine a couple of times for questions and he has answered both times.  

He knows his stuff and is very good.  I will defend him forever.  Yes, I was upset when I found out he was leaving KY but he is only six hours away from me, which is two more than he was.  I will be traveling to Cleveland to see him either the end of March or the first of April.  His staff has also returned my call. 

 Jaqueline, he is in Columbus, not Cleveland so that is even closer.
I haven't met with him yet, not too sure if I will. I am considering a revision to a DS which he won't do so I have been working on that with OSU. He did say he was more than willing to meet with me and won't try to change my mind but does have a surgeon he would prefer I go to in Indy. I will consider that if he would be willing to do followup as I need a doc here in town.
I know our band folks did have major sticker shock for fills, 7 times more $$ than Dr Myers so the practice may be losing a lot of them.
Should be interesting to see how it all plays out.