My surgeon is not submitting me to the insurance company for approval!

My PCP appt was 8/30, QUIT SMOKING on 8/31 (since my surgeon will not perform surgery on active smokers), my surgical consult was 9/19, my psych eval was 9/27. I jumped thru all the required hoops, and everything that the surgeon needed was on his desk by 10/14 and reviewed. The psychiatrist has given the go-ahead for surgery. BUT......he indicated that [I quote from my copy of the conclusions to the report]: "There is no evidence of a psych disorder...or any contraindication to RNY...she does not have any evidence of unreasonable expectations or goals...she understands the risks and discomforts of surgery...she understand instructions and recommendations for before and after the surgery. Further, she is willing to comply...She appears to have accepted the need for active participation in the therapy process for life in order for her to succeeed...appears to be motivated...[OK, so far, so good]. "Having said that, it is important to remember that [the patient] has used food as a coping mechanism under stress in the past [Wow, an MO individual who uses food to cope? That's a first! ;o)]...Counseling should address her need to develop alternate ways of coping....should preferably begin before the actual surgery is performed." To continue: "In the past, [she] would invariably get discouraged when the degree of her weight loss was less than desired or not fast and consistent enough. She would then invariably lose motivation to continue with the program [<--another shocker! :O>]. Such lack of motivation needs to be addressed early on in psychotherapy before the gastric bypass surgery." So my surgeon has instructed me to begin therapy prior to surgery, which I'm totally in favor of. Let's face it--we wouldn't be MO if we didn't have food issues--although that's not the whole problem and we MOs know that. But here's the kicker: The surgeon's nurse told me that they will not submit my paperwork to the insurance company (BC/BS) until AFTER the therapy starts and (according to his nurse) "You've demonstrated that you're committed. We don't want you to think that this surgery is a quick fix. We don't want you to take this lightly." I asked in what timeframe would the paperwork be submitted (after the first session, after the third session, etc.) but was only told "you need to show us that you're committed." I have no problem with the psych recommendation, just the withholding of the paperwork. Doesn't the ins. approval process take several weeks to months? Isn't it reasonable to begin my therapy in this interim? And what if I'm denied? It doesn't seem prudent to initiate therapy to cope with the aftermath of a surgical procedure that I might not have. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANY OF YOU GUYS? It sounds as if my surgeon doesn't think that I respect him or have the integrity to follow his preoperative directive--that they have to (and I hate to use this word) blackmail me into beginning therapy. I know that he is a stickler with his preoperative requirements--and I've met all of them so far (including quitting smoking). He has been known to cancel on the morning of surgery because someone who "quit" smoking actually hasn't, or if the required preoperative nutritional or PT sessions are not done. So, if I were the type of person who said "ok" to initiate therapy and then didn't....Hey, he is the one who has the power to veto the surgery for any reason. What does this have to do with the INSURANCE approval? If any of his past patients have "stuck it to him" by not following his orders....then why should I be penalized? I don't think that I've given him the impression that I think this is a "quick fix" or that I would be noncompliant. Oh, wait---MO people are lazy, unmotivated, and shiftless, right? That must be the problem. Did I mention that I quit smoking? It'll be 2 MONTHS this Friday. I didn't fall over in a dead faint when he told me that one of the complications is death. Because I'm well aware of that. I didn't ask 400 questions because I had already researched the procedure extensively before I even called to make the appt. I'm also an RN who worked in ICU. He is aware of this. I know the complications that can happen to ANYONE having any surgery, particularly the MO. I'd appreciate it if anyone could offer any words of wisdom??

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