Susan, Shelia...Calling all of Dr. Spaw's patients for help!!

Hi all!  Hope everyone is doing well!  I haven't posted in awhile, but I've been here....just busy with work and family! I just wanted to hear from some of Dr. Spaw's patients...I turned in all of my "stuff" last Friday---letter from PCP, 6 mo diet, 5 years of med rec---all that stuff--they have my psych eval and nut consult.  Now I am waiting....waiting....waiting.... Just thought I would ask for some input on what to expect (if I am approved) when I meet Dr. Spaw for consult.  He did the seminar I attended and I was impressed. I am hoping to attend the next support group meeting at Baptist--Tuesday, July 3rd, right?? Thanks in advance for any advice!!  You all are so appreciated!!! Rhonda

Hey there Rhonda! It sounds like you've got all your ducks in a row. Now it's up to the insurance company. As far as the meeting with Dr. Spaw...you will find him very easy to talk to. In our consult, he just discussed why I had chosen surgery and why I had chosen RNY over the other methods. He wanted to make sure I understood what would be done physically during the surgery and what I could expect after. He answered all of my questions as well as some I had not thought of yet. Meeting with him really confirmed for me that I had chosen the right person for my surgery. Our next support group meeting is July 3rd. I'll look forward to seeing you there.

Hey Susan, its Karen from Memphis. I just recently moved here from Memphis and I am looking for a support group to attend. Do you think it would be okay for me to attend Dr Spaw's group or do you have to be a patient of his?  I am 10 months out and I've lost 165 lbs.   Please let me know. Also I would like to know when your next luncheon is scheduled.

Thanks,

Karen

I know that I am not Susan, but I know that you are very welcome to come to the support meeting at Dr. Spaws.  I would love to meet you and it is a wonderful group, this month it is a recipe exchange and discussion, I really enjoy these.  Hope you get to make it and I get to meet you!!! The next meeting is July 3rd at 5:30.

Shelia

Like Shelia said, everyone is welcome at the support group meeting. Our next one is July 3rd at 5:30. I don't know how familiar you are with downtown Nashville yet, or exactly where you will be coming from. If you can find Baptist hospital on Church Street, the meeting is in Plaza I which is across the street from the hospital. There is free parking for Plaza I & II attached to that building. Our next luncheon is scheduled for July 14. We haven't chosen a location yet. I'll post more about that later.

I echo everything Susan just said about Doctor Spaw.  I'm 4 weeks out from surgery and I am very pleased I choose him to be my surgeon. 

Thanks Susan and Pam!  Your info just confirms that I have made a good decision in choosing a surgeon. I am looking forward to meeting you in person at the support group! Rhonda

I'm sorry to bother you, because I am new to the Board, but you have asked the very question that I wanted to ask. I have one more visit with my PCP (July 2) before I have all my paperwork in to Dr Spaw's office. He did my seminar and I have a certain level comfort with him. His office told me it takes 2 weeks now to get approved by the insurance company. I do like his staff.  I hope to be able to make it to the support group on July 3rd as well.

Thanks for asking the question and I need all the education and help I can get.

Will

Hi Rhonda!   I turned in all of my paperwork to Dr. Spaw's office on Tuesday of last week.  Having originally started this process at another surgeon's office, I am releived to be with Dr. Spaw now. I, too, am playing the waiting game.  It is so hard for me not to pick up the phone and call CIGNA!  I'm trying to be patient but it is very difficult. Sheila is the one who turned me on to Dr. Spaw...and of course reading all of Susan's posts.

Have a great day and let me know if you get approved! Freddie

Hi Freddie! I'd give CIGNA 1 week and then call to at least make sure they received all the paperwork. I called my insurance a week after my paperwork was submitted and am I every glad I did. They said they hadn't gotten anything. I called the insurance person back at Dr. Spaw's office (it wasn't Dawn then) and they resent the papers that same day. I called 2 days later to make sure they had gotten them that time and they showed "in process".  I still don't know if the paperwork they processed was from the first fax or the second. I really don't care. The important thing is that they approved me. My papers were submitted the first time on December 12th and the second time on December 19th. I was approved on January 3rd. I considered that pretty fast, especially when you factor in the 2 holidays during that period. I deal with the same thing with secondary insurance claims I have to submit for student athletes for my job. I will send paperwork to our insurance provider and then get a call from the medical provider when they don't receive payment in a timely manner. Many times when I call the insurance company, they will tell me they never received anything. If I get that now, the second set is faxed to a specific person and they have to call me to let me know they got it. If they don't call me within 24 hours, I start calling them and bugging the crap out of them. I'll be praying for a speedy approval!! Let us know!!!!!!!!!!