valleyfree

I met with my surgeon today for the first time -- really liked her! We both understood that medicare now recognizes the new code for VSG surgery, but she wasn't sure if they were actually covering the surgeries. I have private insurance, not medicare, but it could help my case if they are approving VSG surgeries. So, have any of you been approved for VSG in 2010 through Medicare? Thanks for any insight!

My insurance company states: Approved surgical procedures may include gastric bypass, gastric stapling, gastroplasty, and the Lap-Band? adjustable gastric banding system. Any ideas if VSG fits into any of these categories?

So, are Citrical petites okay to take with VSG? I hate the liquid and chalky calciums and would much rather take a tiny pill. I haven't had surgery yet, but I'm trying to get prepared. :thumbup:

Looks like we got a great answer from the OH board. This was just posted in response to my same question. Post Date: 1/6/10 9:00 am ASMBS Insurance Committee Updates Jaime Ponce MD, FASMBS Chair, Insurance Committee New 2010 CPT code for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy has a new CPT code effective January 1, 2010: 43775 -- Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure; longitudinal gastrectomy (i.e., sleeve gastrectomy) The relative value of this CPT code is set by CMS and it will be 21.56 (work RVU) which is between the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and the gastric bypass roux-en-y relative value. Medicare will not be covering this procedure at this time. Bariatric Coding Email Hotline The ASMBS Insurance Committee in response to multiple requests from our members and their office staff have decided to offer an ?Email Hotline? for bariatric coding questions. We have accumulated previously asked questions and will be able to adapt answers according to your specific case in question. In within the Committee members, there is significant expertise and will do our best to answer your coding question. Please send your questions to the following email: insurance@asmbs.org SOURCE: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/EmailArticles/ASMBSInsuranceC ommitteeUpdates.pdf

I have mentioned to only 3 people at work that I am researching WLS. I work at a large university and know lots of people on campus, so I know there will be "chatter" when I start dropping weight. I suppose I'll have to tell folks that I work with why I will be gone a week or more too. I am a light-weight (yeah, right) too, so I know people will wonder why I NEEDED to get surgery. Here's a strange thing....I feel like I am exposing my secret that I'm fat if I tell people I am getting WLS. Isn't that silly? I'm pretty sure they can all see that I'm fat, but that's kind of how I feel.

My insurance lists the following approved procedures.... Approved surgical procedures may include gastric bypass, gastric stapling, gastroplasty, and the Lap-Band? adjustable gastric banding system. Do you think one of these would cover VSG? I hope so.

Thanks Tracy. I notice that you had terrible reflux....did VSG eliminate that? That is my primary co-morbidity and my best chance for qualifying for surgery. I've been told that the RNY is better than the band for reflux issues, but I wondered if VSG would also do the trick.