Question:
Has anyone used a nutrionist or psch. outside your surgeons team?
I live 70 miles out of NY City and my surgeon is in NYC, The surgical team told me that I should see their psch. & nutr. When I found out the psch. was not on my ins. plan I called and said I found someone in my area who was familiar with WLS, the physician's asst.seemed to get a little testy with me but said fine but if his letter is not good enough that's going to be your problem. I just didn't have the $250 to see theirs.I feel the eval.went well and he is writing a letter of recomendation. At this point in my life $200 could set my husband and myself back, we are always living on the 5th paycheck. There are weeks I wouldn't even have the $17 to park in NYC,now for the nutritionist,theirs wants $200, I again have found someone in my plan who is famililar with WLS surgery but am afraid to call and tell her.Anyone have a similar experience or suggestions? Thanks Jane — jane O. (posted on April 23, 2003)
April 22, 2003
No, I went with the people that were part of the Bariatric Program at HUP.
The nutritionist is the one that runs the support group meetins and I was
very comfortable with her. As far as your situation, maybe you can call
the surgeons office and ask them if you could arrange to pay the $200 for
the nutritionist over time...JR
— John Rushton
April 22, 2003
I would check with your insurance and see what they require in the letters
from the psych and nutrition consults. It is the insurance company that
will be doing the approval/denial based on the information, not your
surgeon. I used both outside of my surgeons circle of recommendations
because I wasn't paying the fee for care outside my insurance plan. I
didn't have a problem with it at all. AND I was the first WLS patient for
BOTH my nutritionist and my psychologist! So good luck!
— Virginia N.
April 22, 2003
Jane, I didn't use the psch the surgeon used. It didn't matter to him. He
just gave me names in case I couldn't find someone. Kind of rude for the
physician asst. to tell you that. The doctor I went to had some previous
experience with people wanting WLS. She mainly wanted to make sure I didn't
have other things going on in my life that could cause a problem post-op.
Like being depressed and becoming more depressed after surgery.
— Debbie W.
April 22, 2003
Jane,
I have the same surgeon as you do. I used their nutritionist, simply
because the $200 fee was not only for the consult for the surgery, but for
any consultations for up to a year. As for the psychological evaluation, I
informed them that I would be using someone in my network, and they had no
problem with that at all. I'm not sure what was said to you, but I got no
negative feedback about using my own. As for the PA getting testy, I
wouldn't let that stop me.
Rob
— Rob P.
April 22, 2003
I have not had a similar experience. but I will still put in my 2 cents..
. USE your own doctors!!! Alot of WLS groups are set up a major 'business'
NOT just surgery. They psy, nutru.. if they are 'all partnered'... There
is NO reason for you NOT to be able to use your in network doctors... YOUR
INSURANCE DOESNT CARE! Personally, I have YET to get any 'good'
information out of the nutritionist... but thats just me. If your doctors
office is SO insistant on you using their people... hmmm let them use your
insurance as 'paid in full' bet they dont... I think alot of people
(myself included - when one of my doctors 'asked' for his fee up front;
when I knew it was against insurance contract) is that we are 'scared' that
we will offend them and they will 'NOT' do our surgery. THe psyc and nutr
are a small part of that office' fee, Im sure they will NOT cancel your
surgery just cause you dont use some of their staff.... I know how it is
with money; you need to look out for you and yours first...
— star .
April 23, 2003
Jane,
I live in Westchester. I used Roberta Gersner. She is very nice. Her
website is www.mynewdiet.com. She is located in Ossining, but she is a
little slow with letters. Anyway, she is not a part of my surgeons team. I
decided not to pay the $800 required for psychologist, pulminar testing and
consult and nutritionist and gall bladder ultrasound. I saved a lot of
money. She only charged me my regular copay. My Dr. is Dr. Artuso in Dobbs
Ferry, he is very good. Good Luck. Feel free to email me
[email protected]
— Joy M.
April 23, 2003
Don't take bullying from anyone! You have the right to use whatever doctor
YOU chose. YOU are paying for it, and YOU should get the treatment that you
are paying for! I'd call that person back that was rude, and give him a
piece of my mind! (but, that's just me... I don't stand for being bullied,
or rude behavior)
— Diana L.
April 23, 2003
Hi,
I used the nutritionist that my Dr. suggested. I have a feeling she
works w/ several WLS Drs. in NY. I also have her services for a year, and
she has been quite helpful. I was given a form letter for the psych
evaluator to retype on his/her stationary w/ the inportant points necessary
for the approval. I took it to work and asked one of the psychologists
there what she thought of it. She took it from me and 10 minutes later my
eval was done. I had NO problems with my approval from the insurance
company, and this person had never done any weight loss evals before. As
the others have said, do what is best for you. Ask the surgeon's office if
they have a sample letter for you to show the person you decide to use. I
saved myself a couple of hundred dollars!!
— Fixnmyself
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