hollynn

Dr. G has endured many of my questions, and I ask a lot and has always answered my questions and never makes me feel rushed and spends as much time as you need. I had heard of his office self-pay band price of $12,000, which is better than anyone around and I wanted to see who has taken advantage of this. Holly

It is the doctor's that are out-of-network. That is why they are allowed to charge whatever they want. The hospital is still in network. this way the doctor's guarantee they get $4000 for the surgery which is crazy because I know the usual reimbursement from insurance is around $1000. Call you insurance and ask about cpt 43770. you shouldnt have to pay anything above your copays and deductable. I am seeing Dr. Geller, who is also in the Norton's bariatric program. For the Norton's program, there is a $300 program fee to see the nutritionist and psych doctor before surgery. But the surgeon doesn't have any fees. I know that Dr. Geller accepts the insurance allowable as payment in full. I don't know how the St. Mary's docs get away with what they do. They definitely aren't better. Holly

Dr. Geller in Louisville is $12000 with a year of fills. His office is 502-893-7151 Holly

Dr. Geller in Louisville is $12,000 even including preop nutrition and psych evals and a year of band adjustments. The only thing not covered is any pre-op evals for medical clearance, but that is done by your regular doctor and is usually covered by insurance even if surgery is not. He is the lowest price for many states. A short trip can save a bundle. His number is (502)893-7151. Website is Bariatric Surgery in Louisville, Kentucky. Good luck, Holly

Dr. Geller in Louisville is even lower than that and has been doing lap-bands for 5 years. He told me he has done 700-800. It is $12,000 even. He is the medical director of the program and it is a center of excellence. The program in Charlestown is very new about a year old I think and is not in excellece center and the Charlestown surgeon just started doing band surgeries a little over a year ago. the 1800 cases that surgeon has done are mostly open gastric bypasses going back 15 years or longer. Dr. G. includes surgery, band, anesthesia and the adjustments for a year and the preop nutrition and psych eval as well. The only thing not covered is the preop clearance, but your regular doctor can do that. Give him a call and the short trip will save you a bundle. his number is 502-893-7151. Holly

Be wary of Dr. Shina. He has a terrible bedside manner and has done some crazy things. My friend had, well attempted to have lap-band with him a few months ago, and he started surgery and quit without doing the band. This is the third case I have heard of him not doing the surgery. One a rumor from obesityhelp website, but the other two I know are fact from nurses on the 7th floor at his hospital. The 7th floor is where all the patients go. It is very nice there with private rooms. I don't know much about it, but Baptist hospital is now doing these surgeries and it is by far the nicest hospital in town, but the program is very new. I am a big fan of Dr. Geller who is also at Suburban hospital, but I also like Dr. Allen and Dr. Tanner at the downtown hospital. Most of my friends who had the band surgery with Shina quit seeing him and switched docs for their fills and they couldn't be happier, some went to Allen and some to Geller. I know Geller was the first to do the band at that hospital about 5 years and Shina started about 1-1.5 years ago. He seems to prefer doing gastric bypasses. There is some story about why he took so long to do the bands, something like the company didn't want him doing them. I know this sounds crazy, but check with him and see what he says. I have worked with his patients before in the hospital. Holly

excellent post. at the end you said there are ways around non-coverage ...i.e. 1st step in two step procedures. It is important to read your policy very closely because many insurance policies that specifically cover BPD-DS (bileopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch) also specifically state that it is only covered as a single stage operation and specifically don't cover the sleeve. So, be careful. For the most part, at least around where I live in Louisville, it is only a self-pay surgery. holly

Wow, i hadn't heard that about Dr. Geller. Are you sure about your facts? I have heard that Dr. Shina has botched a bunch of cases. A lot of open conversions, leaks, erosions. The nurses at his own hospital hate him. But I have only heard good things about Dr. Geller. I have alot of friends that abosolutely love him. He spends so much time with patients, myself included -- that he runs late. I have heard plenty of good about the St. Mary's docs, but everybody has to pay $4000 cash to have surgery, even if you have insurance, because of them being out-of-network. Dr. Geller doesn't have these big fees. Hey red, send me a message where you heard these things about Dr. G, because I was set on him, but haven't had my surgery yet. Holly