Nine Month Physician Supervised Diet For Lapband Approval?

[Caribear 184]

Hi all,

I am just starting this whole process. I go to my informational seminar in January. The doctor's office sent me a packet of paperwork to complete, and they asked me to call my insurance company to find out the requirements for approval of the procedure.

I have Caresource Ohio (medicaid) and when I called to ask the requirements, they told me I must have, among several other things, nine months of physician assisted/supervised diet within the last 24 months. Has anybody else had to do nine months? I thought it was six? I'm not too put off by this, because I know this is what I need to do, and any weight loss is great with me, but I was just surprised.

I have one more question, and it may be a dumb one, but I have to ask. Does the bariatric doctor's office do this supervised diet, or is this something that I have to do with my family doctor? Or is that something that just depends?

Sorry so many questions, I'm just a little confused. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[waynef 25]

I had to do 6 months supervise by PCP

[GermaineF 25]

i did my 6 months with my Bariatric Dr and dietician

[Jess55 97]

First I've heard of nine months. But I guess all insurances have different requirements. I had to do 6 months and I did mine at the surgeons office, but I could've done it at my PCP. It didn't matter.

[vingotti33 14]

First time I heard of nine months, I had three. You can do it @ your surgeons office or primary care. Just make sure you stick to whatever doctor you are going to and make sure you go nine consecutive months. I would get with your surgeons insurance team if you decide to go to your pcp, they probably have the proper supervised diet forms for your pcp to fill out. This way you are improved. If it doesn't cost any more I would have your surgeon supervise it. This way you can get to know him better, maybe get some pointer to help lose wiht, and your forms will be completed properly.

[Caribear 184]

Thanks for your responses. I thought that nine months was a little long, but whatever I need to do I'll do. I will try to discuss this with the doctor at the seminar. I'd prefer to do it through my surgeon's office if I can, even though it is about an hour away from here.

Thanks again!

[Jim1967 3,569]

6 months here I have Cigna Care Link.

[soon to be the new me 1]

I have the same insurance and I was told that I had to do 9 months also. I did it with my regular doctor. I just completed this and I was told that they verified my insurance today and I should hear back about my consult in 10 days. I assume this means it was approved? Good luck

[honk 780]

My insurance did not require any preop diet. I ended up having to wait 7.5 months from my first consult because I had a bloodclot in the brain that had to be dissolved before they could do surgery. Yes, I had a stroke at 39, Doctors could'nt say for sure that it was caused by my weight but they also could not rule it out either.

This is the time to develop new eating habits. I lost 50 during the delay.