CK777
August 29th 2006
I am 43 years old and decided it is time to do something about my weight once and for all. I have always been "heavy" but really packed on the pounds the last 2 & 1/2 years as my youngest daughter was battling leukemia. She was diagnosed a month after her 16th birthday (dx April 14th 2004) and just finished her treatment August 16th and today is doing well. Now that she is doing well I can concentrate on ME.
I started this journey in May and went to a semnar at the Barix Clinic but shortly after the semnar I found out that it isn't in my network for insurance. Then I went to a seminar at the Reveal Center at Phoenix Baptist Hospital in June and it was ok but decided to check out one more doctor/facility which brought me to Dr. Blackstone at Scottsdale Bariatric. I went to that seminar on July 9th and started the process. In the meantime I went to my PCP for my annual check up and told her I needed a letter of medical necessity which she wrote up for me.
I then received a call from Terry @ SBC to set up my initial consult and that was for August 3rd, I also took my psych test that day. I went back on the 15th of August for the psych eval and he said I am a "good" candidate. Somewhere around August 18th Freda from SBC called and said that UHC wanted a five year weight history from doctors which I don't have!! I was mad because I called UHC a few times to ask what is needed and that was never mentioned. So I told Freda I don't have that and UHC told me it wasn't "required". She called back a few days (while I'm at work so I can't say much) and says the same thing, that they want five year weight history from a doctor!! When I get out of work I called her back and told her that I'm not sure what the problem is as I have talked to UHC a few times and they keep telling me it is not "required". When she called me back she said the it might not be "required" but they are asking for it across the board. So I called UHC back and asked for Care Cordination and they said that pre authorization could be asking for it but it doesn't mean that I'll be denied if I don't have it but also I could? Before all this I had already typed up a "weight journal" from as far back as I could recall with how long I have been overweight and the many diet attempts I have been on. I was going to submit that IF I had been denied. But, Monday morning, August 27th I called UHC bright and early and asked them to check on a pre authorization for me for the surgery and the girl said it "looks" like it has been approved!! Woo Hoo!! So I didn't want to call SBC right away (well yes I did but I thought I would wait a bit). So then I called back to UHC later in the afternoon and got a different person and they said YES it has been approved!! So then I called Freda at SBC (left her a message) and told her that I got a Verbal that it was approved and can I schedule surgery, not that I am in a hurry or anything!! When she called back she said "wow you before me congratulations we are approved"!! Then she said that she had to forward the file to the scheduler Noreen. But she mentioned that Noreen was going on vacation soon.........UGh!! I really don't want to be a pain but I already knew they were scheduling way out so I called Noreen today (Tuesday Aug. 28th) and left her a message. She called me back and said it was a good thing I called as it was her last day before vacation..............WHEW!! So I am scheduled for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, November 21st, 2006!! What a great way to bring in the New Year, on the losing side!! I am so excited!!
I am 43 years old and decided it is time to do something about my weight once and for all. I have always been "heavy" but really packed on the pounds the last 2 & 1/2 years as my youngest daughter was battling leukemia. She was diagnosed a month after her 16th birthday (dx April 14th 2004) and just finished her treatment August 16th and today is doing well. Now that she is doing well I can concentrate on ME.
I started this journey in May and went to a semnar at the Barix Clinic but shortly after the semnar I found out that it isn't in my network for insurance. Then I went to a seminar at the Reveal Center at Phoenix Baptist Hospital in June and it was ok but decided to check out one more doctor/facility which brought me to Dr. Blackstone at Scottsdale Bariatric. I went to that seminar on July 9th and started the process. In the meantime I went to my PCP for my annual check up and told her I needed a letter of medical necessity which she wrote up for me.
I then received a call from Terry @ SBC to set up my initial consult and that was for August 3rd, I also took my psych test that day. I went back on the 15th of August for the psych eval and he said I am a "good" candidate. Somewhere around August 18th Freda from SBC called and said that UHC wanted a five year weight history from doctors which I don't have!! I was mad because I called UHC a few times to ask what is needed and that was never mentioned. So I told Freda I don't have that and UHC told me it wasn't "required". She called back a few days (while I'm at work so I can't say much) and says the same thing, that they want five year weight history from a doctor!! When I get out of work I called her back and told her that I'm not sure what the problem is as I have talked to UHC a few times and they keep telling me it is not "required". When she called me back she said the it might not be "required" but they are asking for it across the board. So I called UHC back and asked for Care Cordination and they said that pre authorization could be asking for it but it doesn't mean that I'll be denied if I don't have it but also I could? Before all this I had already typed up a "weight journal" from as far back as I could recall with how long I have been overweight and the many diet attempts I have been on. I was going to submit that IF I had been denied. But, Monday morning, August 27th I called UHC bright and early and asked them to check on a pre authorization for me for the surgery and the girl said it "looks" like it has been approved!! Woo Hoo!! So I didn't want to call SBC right away (well yes I did but I thought I would wait a bit). So then I called back to UHC later in the afternoon and got a different person and they said YES it has been approved!! So then I called Freda at SBC (left her a message) and told her that I got a Verbal that it was approved and can I schedule surgery, not that I am in a hurry or anything!! When she called back she said "wow you before me congratulations we are approved"!! Then she said that she had to forward the file to the scheduler Noreen. But she mentioned that Noreen was going on vacation soon.........UGh!! I really don't want to be a pain but I already knew they were scheduling way out so I called Noreen today (Tuesday Aug. 28th) and left her a message. She called me back and said it was a good thing I called as it was her last day before vacation..............WHEW!! So I am scheduled for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, November 21st, 2006!! What a great way to bring in the New Year, on the losing side!! I am so excited!!
