Hi!  I had lapband surg 12/2009 at Salem Hospital.  Later had plastic surgery for extra skin through Kaiser Hospital in Portland.  Hoping the Oregon board will grow more.  Made a lot of friends with a WLS group up in Tacoma area, but it's a little to far to go up often to see everyone.

Hey there,

I am also with Kaiser.  They are still not doing VSG's yet.  Kaiser will not cover the surgical cost of any weight loss surgery not done at their facility.  But like one of the other posters said, they will help you with the after-care.  I am down in Salem and can just see my PCP here at the Skyline clinic when I need anything since my lap-band (self-pay for lapband 3 yrs ago as Kaiser was not doing them).  If I need any other type of care (p/t for exercise or nutritionist), I just call Mary Lou & she gets the referral out for me.  Anyone doing WLS through Kaiser needs to go through the steps starting with the webinar you mentioned.  Even as a self-pay at Salem Hospital, they had steps as well.  They just want to make sure the patient is ready for this major step and a good candidate.  All the programs require some type of education (the webinar for Kaiser), meetings with nutritionists, physical therapists, the psych consults, and the surgeon.  Standard process takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

Good luck in your journey!  It's an amazing ride once you get started...

im still waiting for my sleeve with dr MacColl at Riverbend will you be at the support group on Monday me and my hubby go every month, he wears a army coat  hope to see you there

Hi, I live in Portland and have Kaiser.  They sadly do not perform the VSG procedure, although there are weight loss clinics in Portland that do and they might take your insurance.  I was a self pay and went to Mexico and am doing great!  My Kaiser PCP is taking care of my after-care. And also did all my preop blood tests.