Acute inpatient care denied ??????

Post Date: 11/16/08 5:15 am
I would like to know if anyone else got this. I am approved for my lap band surgery but now i get a letter that my acute inpatient hospital stay is denied after i was approved for 23 hours. Just what does this mean that I get kicked out of the hospital after i recover from the anesthesia. Has anyone ever come home the same day after surgery ? Please let me know so I'll know what course of action I have to take. Of course I would rather come home if the doc let's me.

Most Lapband folks that I know have come home several hours after surgery.  I think I know of one that had to stay overnight due to a minor complication.  I guess what they are saying is that, barring and emergency, they expect you to head to the house pretty soon after your surgery.  Call your doc's office when they open, they should be able to explain.

Yeah my surgeons practice is basically outpatient for lapband, As soon as you are recovered and up and walking they kick you out.  RnY is over night stay then they kick you out.

Give them a call and ask them to explain it to you.  It does seem a bit confusing that they would change their minds.

Scott

Probably based on the notes from the Dr, your health history did not reveal any reason to stay over 24 hrs (inpatient). So, basically they will cover for an outpatient procedure (up to 23 hours) but if you are there longer, the insurance wont pay for your stay at all...

This is typical unless you have complications, then your Dr can submit the operative report and notes indicating what type of complications it was and most likely the inpatient stay will be covered.

That can make you worried can't it.  I think that the other guys just nailed it right.  I got the opposite letter in the mail yesterday.  I was approved for three days, when I'm only supposed to be over night!

Just got back from the grocery store buying clearl liquids, popcicles and gas x strips.

Well my surgeons list of pre and post op instructions states that I will be remain in the hospital for 3 days post op for LapBand Surgery. I hope that means that the insr will approve what the doctor instructs them is necessary.  But I have heard of it being an out patient procedure in most cases. I honestly wasnt prepared for 3 days until they told me...

My cousin had the lap band done on 10/1/08, he was released after he was up and around. I think it was a few hours after the procedure. Good luck.

Wow I can't believe how short your stays are. Mine was 4 days.

Renegadbkr,

Each Doctor and each hospital all have their own rules. At the time that I had my lapband I stayed overnight in the hospital. I have heard that some now are released after the surgery to go home.  Is this way  better? who knows. Of course everyone would rather go home than stay in the hospital. But still this is surgery and serious. Are you better off staying overnight in the hospital? Everyone recovers differently. The best thing to do is to talk to your Doctor and see what his procedure is and take it from there.

Dan

Post Date: 11/17/08 6:40 am
Thanks for all the help and feedback. I talked to my insurance coordinator and she told me they submitted a 24 hour stay accidently and they then submitted for the 23 hours and was ok'd. So i told her to please call me next time if they have a mixup so i don't have to go through the heartache beforehand. Again thanks to all my sisters and brother for the help.