Primary Care

[az062217vsg 40]

Hi all,

My insurance does not require referrals, so I didn't talk to my primary care doctor about weight loss surgery prior to having a consult with the bariatric surgeon's office. At the initial consult with the bariatric surgeon's office though they indicated I would need to complete 6 months of medically supervised dieting with my primary care.

Today I had an appointment with my primary care to start the 6 months of medically supervised dieting required by insurance. When I was explaining the insurance and surgeon office requirements it seemed like she had never dealt with weight loss surgery, and she seemed a bit unsure of what her role was in this whole thing. I tried my best to explain... and showed all the papers I had received from the surgeon's office.

The surgeon's office also gave me forms for my primary care to fill out during each visit, and I'm worried not enough details was provided by my primary care (when she filled out the first of six forms today) to help my case for insurance to approve my surgery.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

It is very unlikely that insurance will approve my surgery anyways, so I'm almost considering skipping the 6 months of dieting with my primary care and paying myself... But then I also worry my primary care doctor won't be able to provide care post-op if needed, since my impression is that they weren't familiar with the process for bariatric surgery and insurance requirements.

My primary care doctor seemed supportive of my decision to pursue weight loss surgery, just not informed of the process...

Any thoughts?

[Jessibird 32]

Hi all,

My insurance does not require referrals, so I didn't talk to my primary care doctor about weight loss surgery prior to having a consult with the bariatric surgeon's office. At the initial consult with the bariatric surgeon's office though they indicated I would need to complete 6 months of medically supervised dieting with my primary care.

Today I had an appointment with my primary care to start the 6 months of medically supervised dieting required by insurance. When I was explaining the insurance and surgeon office requirements it seemed like she had never dealt with weight loss surgery, and she seemed a bit unsure of what her role was in this whole thing. I tried my best to explain... and showed all the papers I had received from the surgeon's office.

The surgeon's office also gave me forms for my primary care to fill out during each visit, and I'm worried not enough details was provided by my primary care (when she filled out the first of six forms today) to help my case for insurance to approve my surgery.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

It is very unlikely that insurance will approve my surgery anyways, so I'm almost considering skipping the 6 months of dieting with my primary care and paying myself... But then I also worry my primary care doctor won't be able to provide care post-op if needed, since my impression is that they weren't familiar with the process for bariatric surgery and insurance requirements.

My primary care doctor seemed supportive of my decision to pursue weight loss surgery, just not informed of the process...

Any thoughts?

My bariatric doctor did not refer me to my primary care doctor. They referred me to a dietician that did my 6 monthly visits to get my insurance approval. The dietician visits were done over the phone and super helpful. She taught me so much about what to expect and helped me start some of the changes ahead of time. You should ask your bariatric doctor for a referral.

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[dodlbug 23]

Post op should be done by the surgeon. I guess I was lucky the group my doctor and surgeon are affiliated with has its own medical weight loss office which helps those who are going through the bariatric process.

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[az062217vsg 40]

Post op should be done by the surgeon. I guess I was lucky the group my doctor and surgeon are affiliated with has its own medical weight loss office which helps those who are going through the bariatric process.

Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

Post op would be done by the surgeon, but what I meant above was long term continued primary care. My primary care doctor should be aware of how to treat a patient that has undergone bariatric surgery (i.e. certain medications to avoid long term post-op, what Vitamin supplements are taken, etc.).

[az062217vsg 40]

Hi all,

My insurance does not require referrals, so I didn't talk to my primary care doctor about weight loss surgery prior to having a consult with the bariatric surgeon's office. At the initial consult with the bariatric surgeon's office though they indicated I would need to complete 6 months of medically supervised dieting with my primary care.

Today I had an appointment with my primary care to start the 6 months of medically supervised dieting required by insurance. When I was explaining the insurance and surgeon office requirements it seemed like she had never dealt with weight loss surgery, and she seemed a bit unsure of what her role was in this whole thing. I tried my best to explain... and showed all the papers I had received from the surgeon's office.

The surgeon's office also gave me forms for my primary care to fill out during each visit, and I'm worried not enough details was provided by my primary care (when she filled out the first of six forms today) to help my case for insurance to approve my surgery.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

It is very unlikely that insurance will approve my surgery anyways, so I'm almost considering skipping the 6 months of dieting with my primary care and paying myself... But then I also worry my primary care doctor won't be able to provide care post-op if needed, since my impression is that they weren't familiar with the process for bariatric surgery and insurance requirements.

My primary care doctor seemed supportive of my decision to pursue weight loss surgery, just not informed of the process...

Any thoughts?

My bariatric doctor did not refer me to my primary care doctor. They referred me to a dietician that did my 6 monthly visits to get my insurance approval. The dietician visits were done over the phone and super helpful. She taught me so much about what to expect and helped me start some of the changes ahead of time. You should ask your bariatric doctor for a referral.

Sent from my SM-J700T using the BariatricPal App

That makes more sense to me - doing the 6 months of required dieting with a dietician... I don't know if it's insurance or the surgeon's office, but they told me to see my primary care for it

[dodlbug 23]

Post op should be done by the surgeon. I guess I was lucky the group my doctor and surgeon are affiliated with has its own medical weight loss office which helps those who are going through the bariatric process.

Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

Post op would be done by the surgeon, but what I meant above was long term continued primary care. My primary care doctor should be aware of how to treat a patient that has undergone bariatric surgery (i.e. certain medications to avoid long term post-op, what Vitamin supplements are taken, etc.).

I totally agree with you. The bariatric surgeon should sent their information to your PC.

My PC and surgeon are with the same management group, so everything is seamless for me. All notes taken by one can be seen by the other when they bring upy digital chart.

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[tani 105]

I gave my surgeon's contact information on the first visit for my 6 mo med visits with my PCP. I also worked with the NUT at her office and that NUT worked with the surgeon's NUT. That only happened because I told them I did not want anything to screw this up for me and asked that they work with the surgeon's office directly. They were very supportive and were happy to do anything they can to help get ins approval.

[Stephanielp 120]

I went specific to a weightloss clinic to get started on mine and in the end he would complete the paper in its entirety for whatever reason. I had to get my surgeon office to call and get my records faxed over.

progress starts in the mind

[Olypie 41]

I too had to do six months with my primary doctor. It was for insurance requirements.

She also had to write a letter of medical necessity and had helped other patients before. So that helped, but Lord I didn't think the six months would ever end lol.

Now I'm a month from surgery and three months from starting this all a year ago. So it will go by quick!

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