Question:
Hospital of Excellence yearly approval of Bariatrics Surgery Dept. for Medicare Pts.

Has to be approved before they can do my Surgery in Nov.said it might be March'09 or even June'09. Before they come to Hospital to do the approval of the Dept. Please let me hear from you if you can clear this understanding up. Thanks, Carolyn    — Carolyn Hutson (posted on February 22, 2009)

February 23, 2009
I don't quite understand what your question is.
   — Muggs

February 23, 2009
Yes, if you have Medicare or Medicaid, you must have surgery at a hospital that has the designation of Center of Excellence, by either ASMBS or ACS. This came about in Feb 06, by CMS. It is a time consuming and expensive process for the hospital to do, but it proves to patients and CMS that the hospital knows what it is doing in regards to WLS.
   — anyce