Medicaid

If I understand correctly, Lap-Band is covered under this insurance. My questions is...I was told by Northwestern Memorial Hospital that the surgery is covered, but not all the pre stuff you must do. (Diet analysis, psych evaluation, etc.) Also, how long does the entire process take? Does anyone have any ideas?

Medicaid covered all for me.....took me 7 mo's after I started with all the requirements.

ops ! sorry 9 mo's...

What doctor did you use and where is he/she located? If you don't mind me asking? Did you have to 6 months of medical diet analysis? Thanks

Dr.Vitello at the University of Chicago....and yes I did have to have a 6 mo's supervised diet sheet......But, my PCP, gave me a diet sheet for a 1200 low-cal diet.....I then typed and printed weekly what I ate and so forth for the six mo's...and next to each week I put down what I lost ...if none then I put an 0... at the end of the 6 mo's doing this I totaled the amt lost...my PCP signed it and it passed..... now for the secret,shushhhh!...I didnt do this diet thing....I figured man I have been on so many diets through-out my life why do I have to do another and fail....so,I faked it....I typed this out in like 20 mins and went to my reg appt with my PC and he sign it...

That is so funny! That is something I would definately do myself! I have to find a PCP in my area, I don't have one. Also, what kind of surgery did you have? Any complications? Do you know how many days, if any, do you have to stay at the hospital for lap-band? Do I first contact the doctor about surgery, or do I do the 6 months with PCP first? Sorry, so many questions, but I have nooo idea! :afro:

that's so funny. i know people who have done that too

I too have Medicaid, and the problem I'm having is that from what I have researched, Medicaid will pay for surgery, but I can't find a doctor who accepts Medicaid! Hope all works out for you!!!!! Any tips on Doctors, please let me know!

Seph,....Try University of Chicago..they take medicaid....Dr.Vitello was one of them and did mine... Ok this is what I done to get approved....J S... I first search and searched for a doctor who would take medicaid...this was a long process....but finally did when I called (seems like all over the U.S (hehe).... Once I did that, my PCP told me what is needed for medicaid to approve.... Blood work, chest ex-rays...( now this has to be within 6 mo's prior to surgery also) so look for doing this twice..... stress test,....phys eval,....6 mo's supervised diet (fake it lol)..... and if you have a nice doctor that knows you are in dire need of the surgery then he will sign almost anything..... once this is faxed or mailed to the surgeon you choosed then make sure they faxed it to your main office (mine was Springfield, Illinois)....if you dont hear anything from them within a two week period then call and I mean to call constant to the surgeon's office to make sure they faxed the paper work to them....What I did to kept in contact to the offices of medicaid was to find their approve sponsors who approves it...I had two whom I constantly emailed and they were always emailing me back to let me know my process...and they also give you a reference # to email them when you need to contact them....about your process and if they received the test(s)..... Once they had all of this it wasnt two weeks and I was approved through the medicaid system....once my surgeon got the approved letter (which I receieved first) then he will set the surgery date....most surgeon's ask for you to come two weeks prior to surgery date for a consultation....I did it this way...I lived 5 hours from Chicago so I ask him if I could come a day b4 surgery to be seen for this and then be there for the surgery itself the next day....he said "YES"...so this is how I become a loser (hehe) G'luck all...

Ops! where is my mind lol....I had the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery... also I found a few doctors and here they are... professionals, and any information you send to them is not governed by our site's Privacy Policy. Dr. Brian S. Boe Belvidere, IL 61008 Dr. Gerald A. Cahill Evergreen Park, IL 60805 Dr. Paul J. Guske Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Dr. Paul J. Guske Elk Grove, IL 60007 Dr. Daniel T. Hoeltgen Barrington, IL 60010 Dr. Santiago Horgan Chicago, IL 60610 Dr. Christopher D. Joyce Joliet, IL 60432 Dr. James M. Kane Jr. Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Dr. James M. Kane Jr. Elk Grove, IL 60007 Dr. Brian E. Lahmann Joliet, IL 60432 Dr. Leslie McClellan Vernon Hills, IL 60061 Dr. Vivek N Prachand Chicago, IL 60637 Dr. Peter C. Rantis Jr. Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Dr. Peter C. Rantis Jr. Elk Grove, IL 60007 Dr. Jeffrey Rosen Downers Grove, IL 60515 Dr. Eric T. Vaughn Belvidere, IL 61008 Dr. Joseph Vitello Chicago, IL 60612 ( my surgeon ) call info for their numbers : and also each surgeon on this list has signed a release form stating that he or she meets the following criteria: Institution has credentialing guidelines in place. Surgeon meets institution's credentialing guidelines. Institution has an ongoing and regularly scheduled in-service education program for bariatric surgery in place. Surgeon has performed bariatric operations for the past 24 months. Surgeon has completed at least 125 bariatric procedures with at least 50 of those cases performed during the past 12 months. Designated Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery (Surgeon) is in place. Bariatric Surgery Program Coordinator (Allied Health) is in place. Appropriate consultative services are available. Surgeon utilizes designated nurse or physician extenders who routinely care for bariatric patients. Surgeon utilizes clinical pathways and orders to facilitate standardization of care. Surgeon maintains a full line of equipment and instruments for the care of bariatric surgical patients. Pre-op patient education plan is in place. Post-op patient support system is in place. System in place for long-term patient follow-up and outcome tracking. No complications til I was four mo's out...I formed two hernia's one was absessed.... also a bowel abstruction....but there is a risk of all abdominal surgery to get this...so its not uncommon.....Just remember we all are different ....most ppl goes through this with flying colors...so keep your head up....and remember we are doing this not only for the weight lost but also for our health.