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

Don't get discouraged!

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.

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...

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.

That's great, my insurance requires:

6 month Dr or Nut supervised diet and

psychology evaluation.

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!