hollynn

Dr. G has endured many of my questions, and I ask a lot and has always answered my questions and never makes me feel rushed and spends as much time as you need. I had heard of his office self-pay band price of $12,000, which is better than anyone around and I wanted to see who has taken advantage of this. Holly

It is the doctor's that are out-of-network. That is why they are allowed to charge whatever they want. The hospital is still in network. this way the doctor's guarantee they get $4000 for the surgery which is crazy because I know the usual reimbursement from insurance is around $1000. Call you insurance and ask about cpt 43770. you shouldnt have to pay anything above your copays and deductable. I am seeing Dr. Geller, who is also in the Norton's bariatric program. For the Norton's program, there is a $300 program fee to see the nutritionist and psych doctor before surgery. But the surgeon doesn't have any fees. I know that Dr. Geller accepts the insurance allowable as payment in full. I don't know how the St. Mary's docs get away with what they do. They definitely aren't better. Holly

Dr. Geller in Louisville is $12000 with a year of fills. His office is 502-893-7151 Holly

Dr. Geller in Louisville is $12,000 even including preop nutrition and psych evals and a year of band adjustments. The only thing not covered is any pre-op evals for medical clearance, but that is done by your regular doctor and is usually covered by insurance even if surgery is not. He is the lowest price for many states. A short trip can save a bundle. His number is (502)893-7151. Website is Bariatric Surgery in Louisville, Kentucky. Good luck, Holly

Dr. Geller in Louisville is even lower than that and has been doing lap-bands for 5 years. He told me he has done 700-800. It is $12,000 even. He is the medical director of the program and it is a center of excellence. The program in Charlestown is very new about a year old I think and is not in excellece center and the Charlestown surgeon just started doing band surgeries a little over a year ago. the 1800 cases that surgeon has done are mostly open gastric bypasses going back 15 years or longer. Dr. G. includes surgery, band, anesthesia and the adjustments for a year and the preop nutrition and psych eval as well. The only thing not covered is the preop clearance, but your regular doctor can do that. Give him a call and the short trip will save you a bundle. his number is 502-893-7151. Holly

excellent post. at the end you said there are ways around non-coverage ...i.e. 1st step in two step procedures. It is important to read your policy very closely because many insurance policies that specifically cover BPD-DS (bileopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch) also specifically state that it is only covered as a single stage operation and specifically don't cover the sleeve. So, be careful. For the most part, at least around where I live in Louisville, it is only a self-pay surgery. holly