I am preop and my surgeons office wants a written statement from my primary care doctor stating that he recomends the surgery. My primary care doctor had previously told me to quote "go for it" but now that my surgeon wants it in writing he is worried about the liability and and may not give me the recomendation. Has anyone else had this problem? what did you do?

Maybe your surgeon would accept a letter that you are medically healthy enough for the surgery and could benefit from the procedure? Nowadays in the US there seems a big push on the patient being responsible for choosing what care is provided. We are given a list of options and told to chose rather than being told that any one treatment is what we should do.

Thanks Cocoabean,

I will ask my surgeon what she will accept. I am not sure if it was a requirement of the surgeon or of Aetna. I will ask her.

M primary had to sign a form before my 1st appt saying she approved.

I had to get a letter from my hemotologist that I was healthy enough for surgery. I had a mini stroke last year and have been treating the bloodclot ever since. They wanted to know what kind blood thinner treatment he recommended pre and post op.

Why don't you change your primary doctor?

Blah. I hate this kind of game-playing.

Doesn't your insurance and/or surgeon require a battery of preop testing designed to show that you're a suitable candidate?

If so, I'd approach my PCP in this way: "Doctor, before I have this surgery, I will see a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, and a psychologist. All will have to sign off on my suitability as a candidate for surgery. I may have to have a sleep study and pulmonary function tests. What I need from you is simply a letter indicating you believe that banding is a suitable way for me to tackle my weight issues. You've known me for long enough to know that I am serious about weight loss, but have not been able to achieve it independently. Can you please write the surgeon a letter stating that you support my effort to lose weight by this means? There is no liability risk; the risk of surgery itself is low, but besides that, I will need clearance from a number of specialists---and I will never see the inside of an operating room if I don't pass muster."

My PCP's participation was not required for banding, but he was lukewarm at best when I told him . Not really negative--but lukewarm.

He's done a total 180. He now recommends it to patients a lot.

My pcp had to write a letter to insurance stating why the band would be good for me... listing my weight history and complications that would be relieved with the weight loss. The surgeon's office needed that letter to send into insurance for approval... it's what held up the process by 2 weeks!

I had to have my doctor send over a referral prior to attending the seminar.

I have to get a medical clearance from my pcp in order to have my surgery. I had an appt with her that was similar to a physical and I was good to go otherwise. I think all that she reported was that I was physically healthy to have the surgery. She took a look at all the tests that the surgeon required (EKG, lab work, urine test, x-rays etc) and she determined that I was good to go.

Sorry you're having trouble! :smile:

Insurancce made me get a letter of medical clearance from my PCP. She had me write up all of my weight loss atttemps and added that to my chart. I think she had me write that so she could cover her butt. She then wrote a wonderful letter.

My letter from my PCP was more a listing of my health issues and that they would improve with successful weight loss which the lap band could help me to achieve.