Question:
Ideas on letter to my Primary care (anti weight loss surgery)
I need to submit a request to my primary asking for a letter stating the necessity of surgery. He has been my Dr for over 10 yrs however is not pro surgery for weight loss. Need ideas on how to request this letter from him and what needs to be stated. Any help appreciated. — abbynormal123 (posted on February 13, 2008)
February 13, 2008
I would recommend that you contact your insurance company, speak with a
reviewing nurse and get the very specific details in terms of what req's
are for WLS, then build ur letter around that. Good Luck!
Laxi
— 502Laxi
February 13, 2008
If he doesn't believe in WLS how can he write a letter of necessity for you
to haveit? How does he suggest that you to lose the weight and improve
your health? Maybe you need a new MD who is supportive and who is aware of
your past struggles as well as the advances in the surgery. Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 13, 2008
If he doesn't believe in WLS how can he write a letter of necessity for you
to haveit? How does he suggest that you to lose the weight and improve
your health? Maybe you need a new MD who is supportive and who is aware of
your past struggles as well as the advances in the surgery. Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 13, 2008
I highly doubt you can get your doc to write a letter FOR weight loss
surgery if he is so against it. Time to find a new Dr that is FOR you
having surgery. I don't care how long you have been with a certain doc.
If he is against surgery he is NOT looking out for your health! Good luck
and God bless.
— crystalsno
February 13, 2008
your far better off to contact a local WLsurgeon and ask for a primary
physician referal. then get a new PCP. Or tell your PCP your doing this
with or without them, they might then support you/ Remember he or she is
your doctor, and your a patient but ultimately its a business and your a
CUSTOMER.
— bob-haller
February 13, 2008
I never needed my PCP's approval for surgery. I attended a WLS seminar and
the clinic I went through took care of the insurance submittal, etc. I did
finally go to my PCP for some of the pre-surgery testing and that's when I
found out he was ALL FOR IT and very supportive of MY decision. So, I would
think you really don't need his approval, but I do understand that he's
been you PCP for a length of time and it would be "nice" to have
him in your corner. But, again, there are ALOT of other really great PCP's
for you to choose from. Good Luck in what ever you decide.
— Toni Todd
February 13, 2008
It needs to prove that it is medically necessary, how long he has seen you
and his recommendations. If you have had diets or what you have done to
try to lose weight.
— tl_morgan
February 13, 2008
I had to go through the approval process twice because i switched sugeons.
Both offices had a sample letter of necessity to follow. My Regular Dr.,
would probably not have suggested for me to have the surgery, but she was
very helpful throughout the whole process. So your doctor might suprise
you. Good luck.
— jhart
February 13, 2008
Pam,I would find another doctor because you have to have someone who is
willing to fight for you, and the surgery.If he knows nothing about it then
you need someone you don't have to convince.Most insurance companies
require a 6 month doctor supervised diet anyway.You can get that from
someone who knows about bariatrics specifically, then you will sit back and
enjoy the ride. I trust someone who knows more than me anout these types of
WLS, not sombody I have to educate myself.He should already know
considering the epedemic of obesity in thic country.Find a good bariatric
specialist and they will make this much easier on you.It only gets harder
once you start so you might as well have someone who already knows what to
do, because there is alot they end up doing for you.Best wishes friend!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 13, 2008
Hi Pam,
I also had a pcp's practice that I have been going to for like 15yrs, and
the physicians assistant that I always saw was against surgery. He had me
in tears because he was not supportive and I knew I was going to die if i
didn't have this surgery. So I thought the practice was against the
surgery. I spoke with someone else in the practice and found out that they
already had 2 other patients who had had wls and I was surprised, it was
just the one phys. asst. who was against it. I switched pa's in the office
(I really liked the staff and the service their and didn't want to find
another doctor), she was very supportive and I was able to get the surgery
done. After surgery, I went back for my checkups and b12 shots and
bloodwork and the pa who was originally against the surgery is actually
learning about it through me and is supportive now. So it may just take a
little educating if you want to stay with the same doc.
As far as the medical necessity letter, people have posted copies of theirs
online as examples, just do a search, it makes it easier to know what you
are doing.
Well I hope that I have helped. Good luck and hopefully we will be
welcoming you to the losing side.
Lisa H. lap/rny 10-23-03 340+/174/??? -170 approximately..lol
— Lisa H.
February 14, 2008
You need to select a surgeon and have him write the letter for you. They
do this all the time and have the termonoligy to justify the surgery if you
are truly a canadate for WLS and he can supervise you for 6 months which is
usually the requirement if you do not have other supporting MD's. You also
need to amke sure you policy does not excluded Baratric surgery for any
causes.
— William (Bill) wmil
February 14, 2008
If he has a fill in the blank so to speak, he may be more apt to do it. I
have a letter that several have used, to include myself and they were
approved immediately. email me at [email protected] and I will
forward the letter to you. It saves the doc a lot of time and it has
everything in it that is required by ins. companies. My doc was not that
keen on the surgery, but he did it, and now he is proud of me and very
pleased with my efforts. Look no further. Deb
— dessary316
February 14, 2008
your best bet would be to look for a dr that supports wls i was turned down
by wls because of 1 of my dr 's opinions however i went to another dr and
surgeon and got my wls i think wls is the best choice i ever made for
myself goodluck and do not give up those days lots of dr s are supportive
sincerly Laurie
— lauriegrizzard
February 14, 2008
your best bet would be to look for a dr that supports wls i was turned down
by wls surgeon because of 1 of my dr 's opinions however i went to another
dr and surgeon and got my wls i think wls is the best choice i ever made
for myself goodluck and do not give up these days lots of dr s are
supportive sincerly Laurie
— lauriegrizzard
February 14, 2008
You can certainly get a new physician if you don't feel he supports you in
this. If you want to look at healthy alternatives to surgery, I am more
than willing to go over that with you. I am an RN and Nutritional Health
Coach, so I deal with weight loss issues most of the time and health issues
the other part of the time! I have seen amazing successes without surgery-
feel free to email me at [email protected] to talk more about it!
— eacoffey
February 14, 2008
my primary dr, at one time said to me he refuse to give me a referal for
the RNY. i said to him very firm , look i cant take being over weight any
more . 2 things can happen either, i end up dyeing from being obese or by
being a balemic, because i cant take it anymore. i cried to him saying
that, after that moment the referal was written to the RNY DR. tell him
this is what you want or you can easy go to another dr. trust me he doesnt
want to loose as a patient
— yvettetas
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