Well I am now back to where I started. It appears that my PCP is going to try for a Network Defciency Referral to Dr. Graber as the only other local doctor that performs the surgery doesn't perform the surgery laparoscopically. The form states that it would be 3 -5 business days before we'd hear anything. We'll have to see what happens.
When I called Dr. Graber's office the other day they did tell me that I would be responsible for what ever costs Aetna doesn't cover. I hope that won't be too much, but we'll have to check in on that. They did tell me to go to their website and fill out the information packet as soon as I got the chance so that I would be prepared for my consultation if I am approved.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
And on Monday... things are not brighter
According to my PCP office Dr. Graniero only performs the Open Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass rather than the Laparoscopic version. This isn't a huge surprise as a friend of mine mentioned that she thought that he only performed open surgeries. My PCPs office mentioned today that there was another doctor in Cooperstown at Bassett that performed the surgery, however he does not accept my insurance. Which left me back at square one.
I'm on to a new plan. According to another friend the Bariatric Group at University Hospital in Syracuse is quite good. I e-mailed the contact on their website and they told me to give them a call to get started. I will have to call my PCPs office tomorrow and ask them to set up an appointment with Dr. Howard Simon who does perform the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. He may be in Syracuse, but it isn't that far away. I was also informed that they have an insurance specialist on staff to help with the paperwork, thank goodness.
I'm hoping that I can get an appointment for a consult set up within the next couple of months.
I'm on to a new plan. According to another friend the Bariatric Group at University Hospital in Syracuse is quite good. I e-mailed the contact on their website and they told me to give them a call to get started. I will have to call my PCPs office tomorrow and ask them to set up an appointment with Dr. Howard Simon who does perform the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. He may be in Syracuse, but it isn't that far away. I was also informed that they have an insurance specialist on staff to help with the paperwork, thank goodness.
I'm hoping that I can get an appointment for a consult set up within the next couple of months.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
The Doctor Saga Continues
Now that I know that my insurance will not cover Dr. Graber, I can't help but feeling like I have been let down. I talked to some friends today about Dr. Graniero and they didn't really have anything bad to say, they just didn't think that he did Laproscopic RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery. I guess I will find out. My thought is that I DO NOT want Open RNY, so if that is all he offers my search to find a Bariatric Surgeon will be back on.
I haven't told anyone about this with the exception of my husband and a few select friends that have been through the surgery themselves. I'm not sure how my family and co-workers will react. I may not even tell them until after the fact......
I guess all I can do now is wait to see when my consultation is scheduled for and hopefully I will find out at some point on Monday. I have to keep reminding myself that if I am not happy with my consultation that I can find another Surgeon, I do not have to settle for any doctor, I have to find the one that is right for me.
I haven't told anyone about this with the exception of my husband and a few select friends that have been through the surgery themselves. I'm not sure how my family and co-workers will react. I may not even tell them until after the fact......
I guess all I can do now is wait to see when my consultation is scheduled for and hopefully I will find out at some point on Monday. I have to keep reminding myself that if I am not happy with my consultation that I can find another Surgeon, I do not have to settle for any doctor, I have to find the one that is right for me.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Well here I am at the beginning....
This is the beginning of my journey. As an obese 30 year old with a wonderful and supportive husband I decided I needed to take control of my weight so that I could spend the rest of my life with the man I love and raise a family together. I was never obese as a teenager, maybe 10 pounds here or there, but then college came. The freshman 15 turned into 30+ and it was mostly uphill from there, mostly caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Insulin Resistance. Today at my doctor's office I weight in at 281 pounds, way too much for me at 5'5".
I went to my PCP today to try to get a referral to a local Bariatric Surgeon, Dr. William Graber. My PCP was more than willing to give the referral, however my insurance company was not as willing to accept the referral. It all started yesterday when I called my insurance company and asked them about Bariatric Surgeons, they verified that there were no "Bariatric Surgeons" within 100 miles of my zip code. Woo Hoo I thought I was golden, if there were not any surgeons covered I could get a waiver to see Dr. Graber due to a Network Deficiency. What I didn't know is that many doctors that perform WLS are not specifically labeled as a "Bariatric Surgeons" and this is what became a thorn in my side. After speaking with my PCP's office for the 3rd time this afternoon it became apparent that there is absolutely no way that I would end up seeing Dr. Graber for this surgery. My PCPs office believes that there is another local surgeon by the name of Dr. Graniero that will accept my insurance. I'm not sure how I feel about that as most of my friends that have had the surgery have seen Dr. Graber. I guess at this point it doesn't hurt to have a consultation..... I can always say no.
I went to my PCP today to try to get a referral to a local Bariatric Surgeon, Dr. William Graber. My PCP was more than willing to give the referral, however my insurance company was not as willing to accept the referral. It all started yesterday when I called my insurance company and asked them about Bariatric Surgeons, they verified that there were no "Bariatric Surgeons" within 100 miles of my zip code. Woo Hoo I thought I was golden, if there were not any surgeons covered I could get a waiver to see Dr. Graber due to a Network Deficiency. What I didn't know is that many doctors that perform WLS are not specifically labeled as a "Bariatric Surgeons" and this is what became a thorn in my side. After speaking with my PCP's office for the 3rd time this afternoon it became apparent that there is absolutely no way that I would end up seeing Dr. Graber for this surgery. My PCPs office believes that there is another local surgeon by the name of Dr. Graniero that will accept my insurance. I'm not sure how I feel about that as most of my friends that have had the surgery have seen Dr. Graber. I guess at this point it doesn't hurt to have a consultation..... I can always say no.
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