Asking for a friend........

 Are there any surgeons in FL who accept straight medicaid for bariatric surgery? I have a friend who had lapband surgery 3 years ago, she is so sick from it. I mean, very sick to the point of fainting a few times a day. Her surgeon retired and did not turn over his patients to anybody in particular. She's been to the ER so many times and all they will say is "you need to have this band removed, that's what is causing your problems." but then they don't help her find a surgeon to do it! 

She's in Shalimar, FL and she said she had her original surgery at Baptist Hospital, the surgeon there now doesn't take medicaid.

I was going to post this on the band board but being a ds'er I didn't want to start any troubles over there. She just wants her band out, not looking for a new wls (she's actually so sick she can't eat or drink anything without it making her vomit, and is scared because she has lost too much weight). 

I am so sorry to hear about your friend.  I wanted to let you know that hospitals cannot "refer" patients to any physician's for specialty services.  Sometimes they refer general physician's or clinics, but not specialists.  

My best advice would be for your friend to contact Medicaid directly, I believe that they have a phone number on the card like other insurance cards and THEY should be able to refer her to someone who would par with Medicaid.

If she doesn't get anywhere directly with Medicaid, she should try to contact her old surgeon's office (if he worked in a group).  If he was the sole physician in the office, she may want to check around to other surgeons who par with Medicaid, if they don't par they should be able to point her in the right direction to a possible surgeon who may par.

It might take some work, but if it needs to come out...she's got to get it out!

 She's been admitted through the er at the local hospital, her potassium is dangerously low, she's severely dehydrated. Her 4yo dd went and got the neighbor cause "mommy fell and won't wake up". Hoping they get this taken care of. 

 If she's currently in the ER fighting for her life, wouldn't they just take the damn thing out regardless of what her insurance is? I hope so. Poor thing!

They've admitted her to stablize her, but nope, they don't have a surgeon on staff who can remove it (she's not in the hospital that she had it done in). Hopefully they can get her moved to another hospital and have it done for her!