Doctor note?

[HolliJ 24]

What kind of note is required from your doctor in regards to agreeing to the lapband?

I don't have a PCP, but since I've been seeing my endocrinologist for over 5 years, the chick at the surgeon's office said that was ok. I called them up and said I needed my weight history and a letter saying blah blah blah. He said he wanted to see me first and the earliest appointment was a month later (which was just on the 30th).

All month I was worried he wouldn't agree to it and would try to get me to do something else. First words out of his mouth about it was, "I think it's a great idea." I was stunned! So he told me he would type up a note and sign it by the next day because he was going on vacation for a month later that day. So I request the copy of my records and then pick them up the next day.

Well, I was expecting some kind of separate letter, but all he did was put a note on the bottom of the appointment transcript saying:

"I agree with Lap banding. I think this will be a terrific option for this patient. I will be more than happy to support her decision with documentation as needed."

Do you think this is ok/enough? If it's not, I won't be able to get anything more from him until the end of July! And that's when my surgeon would like to do the surgery (if I'm approved by then). My pre-op appointment is on Monday and I'm going to give them all the paperwork I gathered at that point.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

None. I didn't have to have a referral.

[isaviolinist 11]

I got a referral (but to be honest, I'm not sure if my insurance actually required it...I didn't have ay problems getting insurance approval) from my primary doctor, and it was basically a hand-written note on his prescription pad saying "Suggest bariatric consultation" or something similar. Not sure if that helps...

[HolliJ 24]

Man, reading through my records... it sounds like I've never attempted a diet at all! I mean, I went quite a while between appointments. But they're like, "Not watching what she's eating and not exercising". Yeah, cuz like, I didn't go to the doctor while I was dieting! I didn't need to!

It was when I gained weight back (and more) that I went for help.

They also screwed up my weight on one document. The first one said 226lbs and another one, a month later, said 245lbs. Yeah, so it sounds like I gained 20lbs in a month! WTH? lol! I don't know if that would help me or hurt me (or have no effect at all).

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Since the PCP referral is generally an INSURANCE requirement, then it would be up to what your policy requires. What worked for someone else (or even if we HAD to have a referral) doesn't really pertain to you. What you need to know is what your insurance company wants.