If your current state insurance company currently has an exclusion, I urge you to contact your insurance companies, human resources and your local Kansas legislatures to let them know that you want them to fight for your rights and get the exclusion dropped. That is the only way we will get the exclusion dropped. Weight Loss Surgery is the the only proven lasting treatment as a tool to help fight Obesity, which is a disease that thousands of Kansans are suffering from. Dropping this exclusion from our insurance companies, that our state insisted on will mean that thousands of Kansans who are suffering will have hope at a new life and a new beginning. It's important we start this process now, as they will be drafting the new insurance policies for 2008. ************************************************************** 1.  Find your current state senator/congressmen at  www.congress.org you'll have to put in your zip code. 2.  Write to them either by email or snail mail. 3.  Don't forget to also contact Governor Sebelius and the State Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger to voice your concerns too. Governor Kathleen Sebelius Capitol, 300 SW 10th Ave., Ste. 212S Topeka, KS 66612-1590 Phone: (785) 296-3232 Fax: (785) 368-8788 www.ksgovernor.org (to send email go to her website and send email via her webform) and Sandy Praeger State Insurance Commissioner 1-800-432-2484 or e-mail [email protected] 4.  (Don't forget to tell them that you want WLS as part of their major Health Care Reform that they will bepushing through next legislative session!) 5.  Below are few sample letters you can send (cut and paste), but make it your own personal story: ************************************************************** from our friends at www.obesitylawyers.com Sample Letter: Dear _____________: I am writing to you as your constituent and a member of an invisible majority. I wish to call your attention to a serious and growing problem in this country. The problem of Obesity and Morbid Obesity is a chronic physiological disorder suffered by countless Americans. In April 2003, Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Center's for Disease Control stated in no uncertain terms that Obesity is the Number 1 health threat in the United States today topping deaths caused by smoking. In 1991 the National Institute of Health found that very low calorie diets simply do not work long term when dealing with Obese and Morbidly Obese people. The Consensus report went on to hold that the only option in these situations is gastric restrictive surgery. In fact, the Dartmouth-Hitch**** Medical Center has released research that shows that gastric bypass not only helps patients take excess weight off and keep it off, it may also increase life expectancy by three years or more. I must tell you, on a personal level I have experience humiliation, health defects and personal difficulties as a result of my obesity. My co-morbidities, to wit: health conditions that are caused or worsened by my obese condition will be lessened if not cured as shown by recent medical studies. The health savings are tremendous. The financially savings to this Country in terms of medical expenses are enormous. Yet, despite the forgoing, Insurance Companies have continued to deny coverage for this life saving surgery. Post Operative patients are discriminated against by being rejected for disability and life insurance. I urge you to contact Gary Viscio of Viscio & Associates at 145 Willis Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501, 516-742-5300 and further discuss this situation. Your help is desperately needed. It is truly a matter of life or death. Thank you. ******************************************************************************************************** and another sample from our friends at www.obesityaction.org Below, please find a sample letter that will help you get started: Your Full Name Your Full Address Your City, State and Zip Your Phone Number with Area Code Current Date The Honorable (Insert Legislator or Public Official Name Here) Legislator or Official’s Address Legislator or Official’s City, State, Zip Dear Title (Governor, Senator, Representative, Commissioner, etc.), In your first paragraph, mention the following points: 1. You are writing to request their assistance in improving access to bariatric (weight-loss) surgery and other obesity management services in the state of Kansas. If writing specifically about state-employee program, mention it here. 2. Discuss how this specific issue affects you and your family. In your second and third paragraphs, mention the following items: 1. Further elaborate how the issue affects or has affected you. 2. Share your personal connection with the issue in question. (Remember to remain brief. A short letter can accomplish just as much as a long one.) In your last paragraph, discuss the following closing items: 1. Urge them to help restore access to obesity management services. 2. Request that the individual write you back, informing you on their position regarding the issue. 3. Thank the individual. Sincerely, Your Full Name Very truly yours, ******************************************************************************************************** Good luck!! Together we will make progress!

After already going through the entire program with Solutions for Life in Wichita, and then LivLite in Junction City.......I am SO VERY IMPRESSED with what I experienced with Dr Hoehn and Dr. Hitch****s group in Shawnee Mission!!!!   I wish this was where I'd started in the first place!!!!  It will definitely be worth the time and inconvenience of the drive.  I'm CONVINCED I've made the right decision this time!!!  (They make Solutions for Life look like a joke)

Count me in too!  I've not had surgery yet...but hopefully I'll be banded in Shawnee Mission in the next few months.  I live in Wichita, and I'd love to have a support group here instead of having to drive all the way to KC!!!

Last I knew LivLite was only doing Open RNY. They had a new surgeon coming who was going to perform the Lap-Band but I didn't want to wait that long. I ended up going to Tallgrass in Topeka.

I am interested too! I live in Hutch, and we supposedly have a support group here, but haven't heard where or when. My surgery is August 6! LaNeta