Hello everyone. My name is Kathy and I am from Alabama and I was wondering if anyone here had used Dr. Miles or Dr. Schmidt from St. Vincent's East. One of them will do my surgery and I was wondering if anyone had any stories of their experience with them. Also, I have Medicare Complete through Secure Horizons and was wondering if anyone had had any dealings with them and was it hard to get approved. If anyone can help, I would sure appreciate it. Everyone have a great nite and look forward to any responses. Thank You.

Good morning StickySweet,

I was going to use Dr. Miles and Schmidt due to the wonderful things I had heard and the fact that my sister-in-law and her daughter used them back in November and loved them. My problem was getting the insurance approval lady to call me back or respond to my emails. I had my appointment and spent the next 7 months trying to get any feed back from them. First they were missing 2 of my 7 month weigh in papers, my family doctor re-submitted them. I waited 2 weeks and started calling. After many failed attemps to get them on the phone or respond to emails, I went to Dr. John Groves in Albertville, AL. He's with Marshall Co Surgical Assoc. and has had the lap band surgery and lost 105 lbs.

I had my appointment, they submitted my papers the next morning, insurance approved me within 3 days, and I had my surgery within 2 weeks of my first appointment. My surgery was Oct. 7th and I have done great. Dr. Groves was great and the office staff was wonderful to me.

Dr. Miles and Schmidt are great doctors but I paid the consult fee to them and never got any further than stepping on their scales and weighing.

Good Luck to you and this journey. I've done great with the lap band.

I live in Alabama also and I used Dr. Cottingham at Brookwood and he was wonderful. His office staff were very nice and quick to get the ball rolling. After my 6 mo. diet ended, his asst. summitted my info to the ins. co.and I had an approval that same day.Then she had me scheduled for my dietitian, phys. therapy, etc. within days. Ihad my surgery 10/20 and I would recommend Dr. Cottingham to anyone.

Hey I live in Alabama too - but I used Dr. Bilton in Tuscaloosa - he is wonderful and staff is too.

Good luck on your journey!

I am a newby, Oct. 30, 2008. My doctor is Dr. John Groves. I have to agree with the previous post. Dr. Groves and his staff are awesome. It may be a little bit of a drive to Albertville, but the care from this staff is well worth it. Best Of Luck, JLCoppett