Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Why Is The Doctor's Office My Hold Up?!



Recommended Posts

I have never heard of the dr office being the holdup in submitting to insurance...nor have I ever heard of the Nutritionist requiring four to six weeks of food and exercise logs BEFORE seeking prior approval. My insurance doesn't require it...I understand they want to be sure of my commitment but 4 to 6 weeks is crazy!! And the surgeon schedules surgery for an additional 4 to 6 weeks out!! It seems they are dragging their feet... My goal was to have surgery by Halloween, but now it may not get done before the end of the year!! #SOFRUSTRATING!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

GIRL, I feel your pain! My dr's office is doing me the same way...dragging out what should be a very quick process now that they only had to put in a stupid date and I'd be approved and I can go to surgery and be DONE and not bother them anymore!!

hope they help you soon!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

GIRL' date=' I feel your pain! My dr's office is doing me the same way...dragging out what should be a very quick process now that they only had to put in a stupid date and I'd be approved and I can go to surgery and be DONE and not bother them anymore!!

hope they help you soon![/quote']

That's right!!! I told the lady yesterday, "Look, I'm not going anywhere!"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've heard of this but it was a Dr and a few staff members who hate WLS. They try to get you to fail so they don't have to approve you. I'm scared my Dr will start this crap. I want mine by the end of the year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow that's crazy the place I'm using performs these surgeries perform them all the time and is a center of excellence in wls guess I'm a lucky one and everyone in the office has been so helpful my date is 2 wks from today it's coming fast

It will be at Tobey Hospital in Wareham,Ma

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Maybe they dont understand what this means to us, or our families? If they have never had a weight issue then maybe they dont. But they shouldnt work in a n area where sensitivity is needed....if they dont have any! I have worked in the medcial field for 25 + years and NEVER have I treated a patient like they are not worth me helping...and having understanding of their situation. Everyone has a unique situation at times.... compassion goes a long way!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow that's crazy the place I'm using performs these surgeries perform them all the time and is a center of excellence in wls guess I'm a lucky one and everyone in the office has been so helpful my date is 2 wks from today it's coming fast

It will be at Tobey Hospital in Wareham' date='Ma[/quote']

Big Don, if I were in a small town where this isn't a common procedure I would feel like, ok, they're not interested in helping make this difficult process a little easier, BUT I'm in Charlotte, NC!! Not only is this group of surgeons a Center of Excellence, but they hold an additional accreditation given above that...

I've decided to "shop" around in the next few days to get a feel for other's timelines. Maybe that will help and maybe not, but I feel like a good portion of $ is coming out of my pocket, and I wouldn't frequent a store that I feel isn't interested in helping me, so why wound I put my very life in the hands of someone who I feel might have priority issues...does that make me crazy??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance required a 6 month diet plan and monthly diet classes including a edonscopy, weight loss seminar, EKG and other labs before I was even allowed to speak to my surgeon. So after all that I saw my surgeon and then it was 6 weeks at least before my surgery. So I saw PCP last August, first diet class in September and my surgery was June 7. So you guys are getting in a heck of a lot faster than my process took.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Big Don' date=' if I were in a small town where this isn't a common procedure I would feel like, ok, they're not interested in helping make this difficult process a little easier, BUT I'm in Charlotte, NC!! Not only is this group of surgeons a Center of Excellence, but they hold an additional accreditation given above that...

I've decided to "shop" around in the next few days to get a feel for other's timelines. Maybe that will help and maybe not, but I feel like a good portion of is coming out of my pocket, and I wouldn't frequent a store that I feel isn't interested in helping me, so why wound I put my very life in the hands of someone who I feel might have priority issues...does that make me crazy??[/quote']

Call my Dr. Carolina Weight loss Surgery. They are very good.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Big Don, if I were in a small town where this isn't a common procedure I would feel like, ok, they're not interested in helping make this difficult process a little easier, BUT I'm in Charlotte, NC!! Not only is this group of surgeons a Center of Excellence, but they hold an additional accreditation given above that...

I've decided to "shop" around in the next few days to get a feel for other's timelines. Maybe that will help and maybe not, but I feel like a good portion of $ is coming out of my pocket, and I wouldn't frequent a store that I feel isn't interested in helping me, so why wound I put my very life in the hands of someone who I feel might have priority issues...does that make me crazy??

Dont come to Spartanburg SC... thats where I am and they are the SAME here... center for excellence maybe for the Dr's....NOT the office staff!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also am having my surgery at a center for excellence in northern Va though. My insurance required 3 months of classes with dietitians exercise coach behavior modification etc then documentation from my pcp for 3 years of wts.

Once I got that done I thought I would get a date the next month. That was July 24 and they set my date for September 25, 2 months away. I am

Ok with that now but was a bit disappointed it wouldn't be August. I had a few issues with the office staff ( see my blog the third and Fourth installments for full Details). After my meltdown they really showed me some compassion and helped me get my date, the info the insurance company needs, and all my appointments set up. I feel way better about the office and the whole deal. This whole thing was hard enough I am

Glad that part got straightened out!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Everything depends on your doctor & insurance company. I didn't wait long at all in 2 months I had everything done including surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My insurance doesn't require anything other than a couple years' worth of medical records indicating that obesity isn't a new condition...other than that, just the regular things everyone requires: Endoscopy, Physical, EKG, CXR, etc...I'm not looking to have surgery tomorrow (lol...because that's the RIGHT thing to say), but I would like to think I'm less than two months out. I think if I've done my "homework" the date shouldn't be something I'm hoping to pin down "by the holidays." Working4shoes, How long did the process take there...I'm really close to Carowinds, so Concord is a good ride...although I'd happily make it to have my goal of surgery by Halloween.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×