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I found out today that the hospital my doctor performs the gastric surgery at is NOT on the centers of excellence list of approved hospitals. So now I have to start over with a new doctor; he or she may have an entirely different list of requirements. I now see how people can get inpatient and go to TJ. I don't have time for another round of hoop jumping :(

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I started with a doctor that was at a center of excellence, but after talking to my insurance they will still cover it at a hospital that is not a center of excellence. I'm giving up the money that they put in my MRA acct. but not driving 3 1/2 hours one way to see the doctor or have the surgery, so I switched. My new doctor was able to request the records for the other doctors office and use the dietician appt for them.

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My psych eval is costing me 377 with insurance. If my new potential doc doesn't require it that is $$ that could go towards my copay. My insurance company doesn't require a psych eval or nutrition screening. Those two requirements were my previous doctors criteria. I was really hoping to have surgery scheduled in the next two weeks...

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I had it in TJ with Dr Ariel Ortiz at OCC. They are very good and they can schedule you within a month. You might want to check it out.

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That's great, my insurance requires:

6 month Dr or Nut supervised diet and

psychology evaluation.

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I'm thinking most if not all doctors would require the psych eval as well as the NUT screening....so just gather all your records & take them to the new doctor. I had gone thru the entire program with one hospital & then I was grossed out by something I saw at the first hospital, so I went to a totally diff hospital/doctor & they took all my test results from the first hospital, therefore, I didn't have to redo anything. Good luck to you!

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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
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