Medicaid & the process

Oh, I forgot to say that I talked to Monica today, and asked her how long it takes to get into surgery once I get the medicaid approval. She said that since all my testing was done it would be next month, so once you are approved it seems like they get you in pretty quick as long as you don't have any complications come to light from your testing. I am free and clear for surgery, so now just a little more waiting. Kelley

Hey Kelley, What kinds of tests did you have to do and how long did that take to complete?  I go to the seminar next Tuesday night, but I am anxious to know everything I can know about all of this.  Thanks! Kathy

Kathy, I had to have some blood work, an ekg, upper gi and stomach, songram of liver, stomach , and gall bladder, and a urinalysis... these were all done the same day at Methodits hospital and took about 1 1/2 hours. I also had to get clearance from my PCP. I had to get a cardiac stress test, but that was just because I had taken fen/phen, you may not need this. I of course had to have the psych consult as well, but it was in the same building as Salimath. I got all those tests done in 6 days within 2 weeks after my initial appointment with Dr. Salimath. It took about one week for Salimath's office to get all the results and send into medicaid for approval. It has been one week today since the paperwork was sent in. I talked to Monica today and she is going to call them it usually only takes about 5 days for them to get approval back. Surgery can be scheduled within a month. I will post again as soon as I hear back about approval and the surgery date to keep you in the know. Kelley

Have you heard back about your approval yet? I had my first appt with Dr Salimath today. I am getting really excited now!!!

HI there.... I met Dr. Salimath last night in Farmington at the seminar.  My appt with him is next Wed.  How did your appt. go?  I am excited too.  I thought he and Monica were great.  I am leaning towards the sleeve procedure.....how about you? Kathy  

I am actually doing the  gastric bypass,  I have all my appts scheduled. I have to see a cardio on the 13th, my sleep study on the 13th, and i go back to see the nut  and psych on the 20th. Then it gets submmitted to insurance. Which is medicaid, and they say they come back in 2-5 days easily. I really like Monica and Dr Salimath. It is just all moving so fast. I am really glad. I hope everything goes well for you.

Hi.. How have all your tests gone?  I had my appt with dtr.salimath wed and it went great.  I am having most all of my tests done at a nearby hospital.  I go back on the 3rd of april to see psych, and the nutrition gal and exercise gal.  He said i would prolly get my sleeve in May...... Kathy