Question:
How many co-Morbidies do you need to get the surgery

I have asthma,acid reflux, mild increase in diastolic blood pressure, and knee pain and ankle pain. The clinic that I am going through says I do not have enough records to prove these things and the fact that my doctor has given them (2) letters of support is not enough for my insurance to approve the surgery. From the very beginning I felt like I was getting the run around from Aug 2001 through Jan 2002 they told me i did not have enough diet documentation then in Jan they told me I had enough diet documentation but not enough Comorbidies then they told me if I got a sleep study and could prove i have sleep apnea then i would have no problem getting the surgery I wonder do they get a kick back from the sleep centers I am frusterated beyond belief I am going to have a sleep study done but I do not believe I am going to go through the clinic I have been using so far although they will not give me my records they said they will send them back to my doctors is anyone else going through this although I do not wish this on anyone else i would like to know if anyone got around it Please let me here from you    — [Anonymous] (posted on March 6, 2002)

March 6, 2002
Check with your state's medical board. I think that you are entitled to get copies of your medical records. I know I had to pay something for mine, .$25 page or something like that. It was about 14 years ago, so it's probably more expensive now. Anyway, the point is that I think the clinic is not allowed to refuse to give you your records.
   — garw

March 6, 2002
What clinic are you going through? Your co morbs seem like enough to me from what I have seen. I do think you getting a sleep test would probably be a good idea only because sleep apnea is DEADLY and is taken as a very serious co morb. I also heard that as of Jan of this year (per BTC of Holland) that they no longer require a 6 month supervised diet. Infact that insurances no longer required that. So that could be why they changed their heart on that matter.Them sending your records back to your PCP is fine and dandy you can always get them from Him/Her. But PLEASE do mention the name of the clinic you are having so much trouble with, it may bring light to someone else going through the same. Good luck to you!~
   — Sassy M.