TxRNLori

Be sure to go online for support also. A lot of the docs have blog where they give support and information. I write some on our surgeons site. Check it out at Lap Band Surgery Texarkana- Serving Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana Let me know what you think.

I am so happy for you. I know sometimes it is difficult for Medicare patients to find a surgeon who will do their surgery. I do hate that they charged you such a large program fee. What was the "program"? We do not charge our Medicare patients a program fee. Nor do we charge any of our patients for follow up phone consultations with our Registered Dietitians. Our support groups are also provided at no cost to our patients. I am the Bariatric Coordinator for Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana. Our surgeons Dr. Hekier and Dr. Keilin do NOT turn away a patient just because they have medicare nor do they limit the number per month like a lot of docs. If you qualify and you satisfy the requirements set forth by medicare you are good to go.:biggrin:

I met his coordinator. He apparently trains LAP BAND surgeons.....must be pretty good.

Hope all went well with your job. Its a shame how many people get "promoted" in one sense or another on who, not what, they know.

I am a Bariatric Coordinator at a Center of Excellence in Texarkana, Texas. People are denied all the time and appeals happen every day. Many of these are successful. I can't believe someone submitted your paperwork incomplete. You are allowed an appeal with most insurance companies but be careful and make sure all the paperwork they want is complete since you can exhaust the process by submitting partial requirements. Go to the Aetna web site and see what their criteria is and make sure you have supporting documents for what they require. Aetna is a stickler.....but they do pay if you do not have an exclusion.

It is usually 6 months total within last 2 years with 3 of those being consecutive in one program. Or a multidisciplinary plan that prepares you for surgery for 3 months.