Okay so I had a consult and was given my list

>nutrition consult, that was not too hard, I found one about an hour away and have an appt next wednesday, $110.00 but I think that sounded reasonable...easy enough

>letter from pcp and blood work, I have an appt with my PCP this week...simple

>get psych eval---------Well, I called the the mental health professional that was closest to me on the list that my surgeon gave me and she said that she would probably want to see me a minimum of 3 visits before doing the report for my surgery!!! Each visit is $90 and on top of that the cost for the letter/report is a flat fee of $150.

This seems excessive to me. Is this reasonable? Did anyone else have to be seen 3 times minimum? All of the posts that I've read have given me the impression that it's only one visit. I'm thinking I should shop around.

Advice???

Christel

I met with my psych eval guy for 1 hour and my insurance covered it.

three visits seem excessive unless they find you have issues. also I don't think they should charge an extra fee for the paperwork

The person that completed my psy eval was a clinical social worker. Consisted of a short survey, that I filled out immediately before going into her office and a one time forty-five minute chat. Insurance covered it. I just had to pay my $35 co-pay. Don't know if different doctors have different requirements.

One visit should suffice. And an extra fee to write a letter?? I would go back to that list from your PCP and find someone else, even if you have to travel a little farther...

Yep - once should be sufficient.

I spent an hour or so talking to my guy and then he gave me some standard psych eval test. One visit - 3 hours - done.

Find another doc.

:]

I only had a one visit psych eval too, and he told me in his office that he approved me and was sending a letter to my surgeon saying I was a good candidate. My co-pay was $35. I didn't have to pay anything extra for the letter to the surgeon.

I would shop around if I were you. Do you have to use those listed by your surgeon, or can you pick your own? Also, are you covered by insurance so that you can have your eval covered too...that may help with the cost.

I would shop around for the psych eval. Mine was painless and only one visit. Good luck. Julie

Thanks to everyone for replying. I will be shopping around. I just was so surprised when she told me that. She didn't sound very supportive of WLS anyway. She kept saying that people are getting surgery before they've dealt with why they overeat. And that she's seeing so many patients coming back to see her to finally deal with their issues and now they are sick. Very negative. Thanks again!!!

Christel

The first time I started this. I went for 45min and just talked and put blocks together( that was funny) Shop around.

julie

Thanks to everyone for replying. I will be shopping around. I just was so surprised when she told me that. She didn't sound very supportive of WLS anyway. She kept saying that people are getting surgery before they've dealt with why they overeat. And that she's seeing so many patients coming back to see her to finally deal with their issues and now they are sick. Very negative. Thanks again!!!

Christel

In a sense, she is probably right - we SHOULD all get our heads screwed on straight before we start... but DANG, I might be 100 yrs old before I could get my head straight!

:]

ReneBean, lol, that's what I was thinking.

Julie, since our locations are so close would you mind sharing with me who you saw for your psych eval.

thanks again,

Christel

I'll call Doctor McKeen's office and find out for you. Julie

Originally Posted by christellini

She kept saying that people are getting surgery before they've dealt with why they overeat.

I don't think there are too many people willing to jump into surgery without having thought long and hard about it. And I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of us have tried pretty much every other alternative first. Sounds to me like she either doesn't understand obesity at all or she's just trying to make as much money as she can off each patient.

Call your insurance company and ask who they suggest (and pay for) that does bariatric surgery evaluations. I did NOT go to the ones my surgeon's office suggested, I went to who my insurance paid for after calling a couple from the list the insurance company gave me. It was one visit, about 45 mins talking and then the MMPI-2 personality test. Altogether it was $45 out of pocket as it was billed as three visits (which I think was sneaky, but oh well) and my copay is $15 per visit.

Good luck!

Three visits? Try another doctor. One visit is enough.