do i need a better doctor or a new health care?

andreerichards1 · December 2, 2006

My doctor as apply for me to get a weight lost surgery, two time wish i thought it was the lab band. but last week i found out it was the bypass, so anyways I'm trying to find lots of home work for the government to see if they could help me with the band. So i decided to go and get the letter from my doctor office and i ask to get a copy of the answer but she didn't have it. so i had to call health care and they were mad when i told them the doctor didn't get it. So now i have to go see my doctor on Wednesday, to do more test or something, the nurse told me it would get me closer to what i want. oh yes he apply back in august 2005. So i would like to prove to the Yukon health care that the lab band is cover in Alberta but i cant find anything online can someone else?

Personally i do think health care should help me maybe not all of it but i would be happy if i got any help. I did find out if you qualified they will get you the bypass and health care does cover that.

if anyone could help i would really appreciate that

andree

argon · December 3, 2006

I would call one of the Alberta Dr's or even Alberta health, and ask them... maybe Alberta Health would be a better idea. You could ask them to fax you something stating that Alberta does indeed cover the lapband.

This should be easy enough for Yukon health to find out, but I'm sure they're not in any hurry to give you money. I applaud you for trying so hard. I did the same thing, harassed many people, and in the end realized it was not a battle I'd soon win (this was with Sask Health). Good luck!

Gaffer · December 7, 2006

In talking to the person at Dr.Mitchell's clinic in Calgary AB health does cover the LapBand procedure when done in Alberta. Assuming you dont die of old age first.

I would call Dr. Mitchell's office to see if they could write you a letter to that effect or direct you to someone in AHC that could do the same

Gaffer

andreerichards1 · December 7, 2006

i email the Alberta health care and i got this.

Alberta Health and Wellness does cover medically required bariatric surgery for weight loss for extremely obese patients with medical complications from the excessive weight. There are two procedures, stomach stapling and gastric banding.

Alberta Health and Wellness does cover both surgeries if the physician performing the surgery feels the patient meets the program requirements. These procedures are now being done in Edmonton by 2 surgeons (Dr. Douglas Davey and Dr. Dan Birch), as part of the Capital Health Adult Bariatric Surgery, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Patient selection includes: age 18 years and older; Body Mass Index greater than 35 with two co morbidities, or greater than 40 with or without co morbidities; and some other criteria. If you wish to calculate your body mass index, there is a web site: http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm where you can have the body mass calculated automatically. Patients have to be referred to the two surgeons performing this surgery. Once they have seen the surgeons, the patients go through the Bariatric Clinic to be further checked to determine their eligibility for surgery. Only after it is determined that surgery is the best option, will surgery be booked. After the surgery is actually booked the wait is usually less than six months for the surgery to be performed.

If an Alberta resident goes outside of Canada for this surgery, the physician’s fees and hospital bill are usually paid by the patient and submitted to Alberta Health and Wellness for consideration of payment later. Alberta Health and Wellness does cover the surgery, at the same rate as it would be paid in Alberta. The hospital in-patient charges are only paid at $100.00 per day. The fees charged by physicians and hospitals outside of Canada will be significantly higher than the fees payable by Alberta Health and Wellness.

The patient would still have to be medically eligible for this type of surgery for payment to be considered.

I trust this is the information you require.

well today i had to go and see my doctor for the mix up from last year when the apply for the bypass and they weigh me and messure me im short 5.4 my bmi is 45 thats bad. He told me he was going to talk to a surgent and see what they could do for me if the lab band would be better I need a new doctor he makes my blood presure go up and on the way out the nurse said to me so after all of this is this going to help your husband to lose wait and pete is not over wait he could lose 20lb but thats it and i cant believe she said that this nurse is 2 times my size.

andree