Psych Eval tomorrow

[mssteal216 45]

Very excited to be getting my online psych evaluation done tomorrow!! Also got a call from Dr Friday stating that I could come pick up my 6 months of supervised diet papers!! Almost to the home plate and excited about it!!

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[blizair09 3,250]

That's great!!

[Butterflywarrior 241]

Awesome!!

Online psych evaluation? That's interesting...

I guess if you didn't have a choice, self pay etc, that's good but as a person in the mental health field, I feel kinda distressed reading this.

Most of us heavy ppl have emotional eating concerns or related weight related to mental issues and it's important to get through evaluation and treatment especially before, during this surgery and aftermath...

I've been in therapy addressing issues and still surprised by how much food and my mental health are twisted now that I am recently sleeved

I had a number of paper/pencil assessment test plus a clinical interview with the psychologist part of the program despite having my own therapist and it was extremely helpful...if course, my insurance allowed this and I know not everyone has access but it just concerns me that one can go online and get a psych evaluation for such a major life changing situation...unless it was like a telemental health situation...

Just my three or five cents

[MissJDVSG 129]

Awesome!!

Online psych evaluation? That's interesting...

I guess if you didn't have a choice, self pay etc, that's good but as a person in the mental health field, I feel kinda distressed reading this.

Most of us heavy ppl have emotional eating concerns or related weight related to mental issues and it's important to get through evaluation and treatment especially before, during this surgery and aftermath...

I've been in therapy addressing issues and still surprised by how much food and my mental health are twisted now that I am recently sleeved

I had a number of paper/pencil assessment test plus a clinical interview with the psychologist part of the program despite having my own therapist and it was extremely helpful...if course, my insurance allowed this and I know not everyone has access but it just concerns me that one can go online and get a psych evaluation for such a major life changing situation...unless it was like a telemental health situation...

Just my three or five cents

These are legitimate concerns. Actually I did the online one (bariatricpsycheval.com) too because of my less than stellar insurance. I think that for people who don't have a history of mental health issues, this kind of evaluation is fine.

That's not to say that we won't need a good therapist after getting sleeved. I know that a lot of the mental work that comes with massive weight loss happens postoperatively. But honestly the psych eval just seems to be a box that you need to check off to get the surgery, either because of insurance or surgeon requirements.

Plus the online evaluation still makes you take some tests, and then you have a phone call with a psychiatrist where they ask you about your weight, family issues, issues with food, mental health issues, if you have a support system, etc. I think this would qualify more as telemedicine than purely "online".

Regardless, as someone who is a full time student and who works pretty ridiculous hours, I'm grateful that this service exists to get this requirement taken care of without having to meet in person or go through several appointments.

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[mssteal216 45]

Yes this was a check off to get approved through medicaid. I as well am using bariactricpsycheval.com for the $150

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[MissJDVSG 129]

Yes this was a check off to get approved through medicaid. I as well am using bariactricpsycheval.com for the $150

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Yup, same here. I'm Illinois Medicaid.

It's only about a half hour phone call. No biggie. It's nice to get closer to and closer to this surgery!

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[stackinstones11 28]

Oh neat I didn't know they had online psych evals!! Best of luck to you you won't regret it!!

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

It's just there are a lot of people with undiagnosed issues or even unrecognized eating issues that should be screened in advance bc some ppl just bs whatever to get what they want and then there are huge issues latter that could have been prevented

Our society puts mental health 2nd or 3rd place even and dobt take it seriously when it can break or make success even prior to the actual surgery.

Most of the psych stuff comes after but it helps when clinics know a client doesn't have good social support for instance...

Anyways, off my soapbox..I just find it disturbing that psych part is so disregarded in the pre process as if it doesn't truly matter...

Maybe it's bc I do research in psych and public health so I'm exposed more to the consequences if medical and psychiatric negligence...etc

[Aggiemae 739]

You surgeon requires a 6 month pre op diet? Do you know why? Years ago all bariatric surgery required that the patient "prove" he/she "could" loose weight. The NIH did a study that showed there was no long them benifit...so I'm just nosey.

[MissJDVSG 129]

You surgeon requires a 6 month pre op diet? Do you know why? Years ago all bariatric surgery required that the patient "prove" he/she "could" loose weight. The NIH did a study that showed there was no long them benifit...so I'm just nosey.

I believe the original poster has Medicaid, like me. I feel like with Medicaid, it is less about changing eating habits or proving that you can lose weight, and more about trying to deter a lot of people from wanting Medicaid to pay for the surgery.

My surgeon's office said that the Medicaid insurance requirements for the surgery are some of the toughest. My personal feeling is that they think people will see that long list of requirements and either save up and self pay or give up on bariatric surgery all together. But, maybe I'm just being cynical.

I'm still glad that I had to do the 6 months because I've learned a lot about post-op life and changed my eating habits to essentially match post-op eating. Nonetheless, I don't feel like that's the point of it. A lot of private insurances require a 3 or 6 or sometimes even 9 month diet period too, though.

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[MissJDVSG 129]

It's just there are a lot of people with undiagnosed issues or even unrecognized eating issues that should be screened in advance bc some ppl just bs whatever to get what they want and then there are huge issues latter that could have been prevented

Our society puts mental health 2nd or 3rd place even and dobt take it seriously when it can break or make success even prior to the actual surgery.

Most of the psych stuff comes after but it helps when clinics know a client doesn't have good social support for instance...

Anyways, off my soapbox..I just find it disturbing that psych part is so disregarded in the pre process as if it doesn't truly matter...

Maybe it's bc I do research in psych and public health so I'm exposed more to the consequences if medical and psychiatric negligence...etc

I totally agree, mental health should be treated on an equal level with physical health and it's not in the United States.

The online/over the phone evaluations just fill a need that people who are self pay or have less than stellar insurance (like myself), where you need the evaluation for surgery but can't see an in person therapist for financial reasons. But I agree, in a perfect world, all insurance would provide coverage for mental health services and prior to bariatric surgery would be a good time to spend some time with a mental health professional.

What kind of research do you do? That sounds really fascinating!

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

I have medicaid or its called medi cal here... I also, due to my complex health issues and living with my mom and Obama making sure insurance companies cant deny ppl with pre existing conditions have private primary insurance with blur shield... they also required a six month supervised nutrition, support group attendance and other random things like illustrating you have tried and failed several weight loss plans.

I have a ppo, it is expensive and still I had hoops aswell..itsit's no jusMedicaid that demands this....

I think, they believe they are trying o help ppl prepare for the surgery...most insurance companies, including government ones don't care about research studies

They don't really want to pay but if they do, tgey try and throw together some resembles of care and follow up...just my cynical opinion here

I do feel, that at least with medi cal here in Cygeythey approved adding the sleeve ratgerrather fast to li ofif procedures they will cover cover so to me, that indicates some desire to help patients plus it saves them economically bc being really fat, getting comorbidities, medications, tests, er visits cost a lot more then weight loss surgery...

[billpride 23]

I'm from Illinois and have Medicaid ( family health network) I start the process of my psychological evaluation tomorrow after calling like 10 places my insurance told me that did it is finally found one place that actually did , if I knew there was a place to call or do it online I might of done it just to get it out of the way

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[MissJDVSG 129]

I'm from Illinois and have Medicaid ( family health network) I start the process of my psychological evaluation tomorrow after calling like 10 places my insurance told me that did it is finally found one place that actually did , if I knew there was a place to call or do it online I might of done it just to get it out of the way

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I have the same Medicaid program and the surgeons office that I go to looked and looked and couldn't find one in my area (Chicago), so they just referred me to the online eval. It cost $150 bucks but I did appreciate the convenience.

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[MissJDVSG 129]

I have medicaid or its called medi cal here... I also, due to my complex health issues and living with my mom and Obama making sure insurance companies cant deny ppl with pre existing conditions have private primary insurance with blur shield... they also required a six month supervised nutrition, support group attendance and other random things like illustrating you have tried and failed several weight loss plans.

I have a ppo, it is expensive and still I had hoops aswell..itsit's no jusMedicaid that demands this....

I think, they believe they are trying o help ppl prepare for the surgery...most insurance companies, including government ones don't care about research studies

They don't really want to pay but if they do, tgey try and throw together some resembles of care and follow up...just my cynical opinion here

I do feel, that at least with medi cal here in Cygeythey approved adding the sleeve ratgerrather fast to li ofif procedures they will cover cover so to me, that indicates some desire to help patients plus it saves them economically bc being really fat, getting comorbidities, medications, tests, er visits cost a lot more then weight loss surgery...

You make a good point. The long term costs of obesity (and all of the other conditions that may come with obesity) are high. It's better to pay for the surgery to eliminate these conditions than pay for a lifetime of potential expensive illness and medical care.

It's unfortunate that money is the bottom line for insurance companies, but at least in this instance it works in our favor, in terms of WLS being covered.

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