Finally.... some action!

I was thrilled yesterday when the gal in Dr.Higa's office finally said she would submit my claim for insurance. It has been a month since I was in for the consult. Dr.Higa accepted all my previous testing, and on the day of the consult, he declared that he would be submitting ASAP. But his office staff decided they wanted more copies of the test results ...and after they got them, they decided that one of my tests was TOO old even though Dr.Higa had already approved it. I asked the staff to check with him before they demanded I redo the test. I phoned back the next day to see what the Doctor said and the snippy gal in the office said she hadn't had time to talk to him, AND that she would phone me WHEN she had.

I waited over a week and then I called back anyway. She said that the doctor would 'take a chance' on doing the surgery if I wanted to "take a chance" with the "outdated" test. I said, "I DO". Then I asked, in a very calm and quiet voice,"When were you going to phone me and let me know?" She sputtered that she had only just asked him, and when I reminded her that it had been OVER a week, she made some excuses about being in clinic and working late. Do they not know how to write notes in that office??? I hate hearing flimsy excuses. Grrrrr.....

Hopefully now I am one step closer to my goal of lap RNY. . If I could have stayed with my original surgeon, I would be six weeks out of surgery now instead of STILL waiting. Crazy insurance! The hardest part has been trying to stay optimistic and motivated. I know I have regained some of the weight I had lost, and my exercise routine is not as rigorous as it was. I have been really bummed by the whole wait, wait, wait thing....and I know that compared to many of you on this board, I have no right to complain.  Sorry about the vent -- I don't know who else but you folks would understand.

Cindy


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I can sense your frustration and have been there.  I had decided I wanted this surgery in Oct of 2007 yet I did not get a surgery date until 3-2-09 due to various hinderances.  But your day will come just hold on and keep persuing.  I had those days when I would say, "just what is the use" and I would fall back into some old patterns.  But finally when I got the call that I was going to have the surgery, I couldn't believe it and it made the hanging in there all worthwhile. 

I think I might tell tell the Dr the next time you get a chance what the office girl has put you thru.  He might want to know how his patients are being treated. 

Keep your chin up!  Your day will come, I promise!

~Blessings~
Pauline

Wow, what a winner that one is lol.  I know I praised Dr. Higa's office and really I still stand by that, by my experience with his office...but, my husband's experience, not as easy.  You know how the intake coordinators are issued by last name (DH and I have different last names), well my gal was great.  She was on top of things.  Always called if she needed anything or had questions and called to let me know what was going on every step.  My husband's coordinator will barely even return my calls and she failed to let me know that they were still waiting on a nutritionist report that had been completed weeks ago.  I realize the lag on the report wasn't her fault but I was under the assumption she had it long ago.  When she didn't have it, she should've called me.  Cest la vie, things are back on track and we're waiting on approval, like you.  I hope it happens soon for you!  And don't worry, even though the office staff may not be up to par, Dr. Higa definitely is.