Need Provider in L.B. area?

I am trying to help a friend that is in need of WLS.
She lives in the Long Beach area and her medical
group in Harriman Jones and she has not had any
success with getting approval for the surgery.  She
meets the criteria but keeps running into roadblocks
so I told her I would post. If anyone can provide me
with information as to a Dr. that you used when you
were approved for WLS and what medical group they
are associated with it would be very much appreicated.

Thanks, Katie

Hi Katie

My primary care provider is with Cypress Center for Family medicine and I know that they are contracted with Harriman Jones.  Your friend might need to change providers - I have Dr.Matthew Davis.  So he referred me to Dr. Ali (at Dr LePorts group) and it was Dr. Ali's office that got the insurance approval.  I have SCAN insurance but I know that Dr Davis sees Harriman Jones patients.  Alot depends on what her insurance co is....she needs her primary care to refer her to a bariatric surgeon for WLS....if her PCP will do that (and of course I recommend Dr LePOrts group) then she wouldn't need to change PCP's

Hope this helps

Jean is so right, Dr. Leports office is so good about helping you to get an approval. You just need to get your dr. to refer you to his office.  There are several excellent drs. in that office, it looks like Jean and I agreed on the best Dr. Ali.  Hope you get some satisfaction soon.  Keep in touch and let us know.   Hugs~Donna

Dr. Irene Malek in Long Beach is one of the best primary care doctors EVER!!!! She's awesome and very WLS-friendly.  She has a large number of patients who have gone thought weight-loss surgery.  She takes every type of medical insurance....I love this woman!!!

Thanks to those of you that responded to my post for
a provider in Long Beach. I will pass this information
on to my friend.  I feel so bad for her because i had
no problem at all and was approved in two days. I
guess I was lucky I had a provider that submitted all
my information to my insurance company and once
they approved me I was referred to Dr. LePorts office.
I know that all the surgeons are great but I'm a bit
partial and would not have had anyone but Dr. LePort
as my surgeon, I did have to wait a bit longer because
he was so booked up but it was worth the wait.

Thanks Again,
Katie