Question:
Can anyone recommend a weightloss surgery friendly psych in Philly or S. NJ?

Philadelphia or Southern New Jersey area. I have Oxford Health insurance (freedom plan) and it is required that I have a letter from the psycologist for approval for surgery. Everyone has been such a help guiding me step by step in this whole process,thank you!    — Dawn H. (posted on April 30, 2001)

April 29, 2001
Ask your surgeon who he recomends!!!!!! I made a big mistake having my sleep study done by a doctor who turned out to think WLS is a waste, the doc is uninformed at the good surgery can do, like cure diabetes. He is making it hard to get approval and delaying things seriously. So take my advice and everyone use the doctors your surgeon recomends for a hassle free approval.
   — bob-haller

July 7, 2002
HI! I am not sure if Oxford is linked with this place but I had my psych eval at Psychological Services and HUman Development, they have offices in Swarthmore, PA and Fort Washington, PA. I saw a Dr. Bagat. SHe works in both offices and got my eval to my doctor the next day!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!
   — Bernadette H.

July 7, 2002
I am getting my surgery done at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the psychologists at HUP's Weight & Eating Disorders Program are the ones that do the psych consult. They are WLS-friendly; however, I don't know if they will see anyone outside the program. They also didn't take insurance for my psych consult - I had to pay $200. The program's number is 215-898-7314.
   — John Rushton