Can I switch Dr.'s..I have a huge program fee.

[bellyfatgone 0]

I have done most of my preops that are necessary, but my surgery was pushed back because my insurance requires a 6 month supervised diet. My plan is to be banded in November, but I'm wondering if I should find a new Dr.

The reason I'm considering this is I remember signing a paper that said I would pay a huge sum of money prior to surgery (I think around $2,500) not covered by insurance- for program fees or after surgery care.

Will I end up paying that even if I found someone else?

My Dr. now is Dr. R. Pinnar in VA. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Headhunter 6]

Belly,

I would find another Surgeon, unless there is some very real benefit to having this guy do it, or some MASSIVE "plus" to paying that OUTRAGEOUS "program fee".

Those fees are rip-offs. The Drs get paid very, very well by the insurance companies, and for them to get just THAT MUCH greedier is simply criminal.

I would seriously look for another Surgeon. There are PLENTY of other FINE Drs that are NOT in it for the money to the degree that the guy you mentioned is.

I get SO angry when I read about crooks like that.....

HH

[ItsBetterThanFood 0]

I couldn't agree more! Any doctor you go to will likely act as if he/she is the only one who can perform your surgery and aftercare .... however, I went to three different surgeons before deciding on mine, and I will tell you that all were very qualified. The surgery is more or less the same no matter who you have it done with, the pre and post op diets may differ a little, the stay (or lack thereof) in the hospital/clinic, and the care you receive post op, but for me the reason I chose my surgeon was mainly the COST. The first doctor I went to was going to charge $25,000... the second $17,000 and the one I ended up going to was about $7,000. I would encourage you to keep searching until you find a surgeon whose skills AND fees you are comfortable with. Best of luck to you! )

[Jachut 487]

Such fees are the norm here but I suspect its different because of our system being different. Here, Medicare pays a schedule fee for everyone, rich or poor, but doctors charge well ABOVE that scheduled fee. So for any given expense, you'll get 85% of the scheduled fee back from medicare but there will be a gap over and above that which is out of pocket. this is the same for all doctors, specialists and surgeon's - you'd never find one anywhere who charges only the scheduled fee, its unheard of.

Private health insurance pays hospital costs, not doctors.

When a doctor "bulk bills" it means he bills Medicare direct, not the patient, and he bills only the scheduled fee. When we pay this program fee, we are then bulk billed for all aftercare which means no out of pocket cost ever again, for fills, follow ups or revision surgery. We can go for fills and consultations whenever, as often as we like.

So in one regard, its the same, it covers the doctor's outrageous fee over and above the base that he should be charging, but the fact is, if we went to another doctor we'd pay a couple of hundred for each consultation/fill so we'd be paying that money out any way.

But here, no pay, no surgery.

[bellyfatgone 0]

Thanks for your comments. I'll have to check into other surgeons in the area to see if they charge anything. I know that everything seems to be more expensive in Va compared to many other places, so maybe it's the norm.

[Just-Ice 1]

The dr I chose (in NKY) has a 700 program fee. 350 to start, the other 350 before the surgery. The money covers the nutrition classes (2) and the psych eval. Also covers the nurses night, a doctor lecture night and a tour of the hospital..

hope that helps!

[Headhunter 6]

The dr I chose (in NKY) has a 700 program fee. 350 to start, the other 350 before the surgery. The money covers the nutrition classes (2) and the psych eval. Also covers the nurses night, a doctor lecture night and a tour of the hospital..

hope that helps!

A TOUR of the hospital? WTF?

Does that include a Wine Tasting and cheese sampler, maybe a massage?

The crap that they "include" just amazes me.....

HH

[heschete 0]

I dont see why any Dr would need to charge a program fee. I had the classes, pre-op info and 1 year of after care for one price, my surgery price. I did pay for the psych eval out of pocket but it was only $50.

[bellyfatgone 0]

WOW! My Psych Eval was $350.00!!!

[Evie71609 0]

OK listen I live around the N VA area where you are--- there are many other doctors who do not have these program fees. No you will not have to pay it if you choose another doctor, they can not keep your medical records from you because you OWN your medical records.... so saying that you need to google lap band doctors in northern va.... or even look to MD if you have insurance.... Dr. Barry Greene is AWESOME and doesn't have that fee. I would go to him but I am self pay and he is $7k higher than where I am going in Michigan....tomorrow!

You will not have to start all over again, and if you have insurance why did you pay out of pocket for you evaluation? That makes no sense.... some of these doctors are playing a game and it makes all doctors look bad.... good luck.

[bellyfatgone 0]

The psych was out of network(long story) and so I had to pay upfront and have my insurance reimburse...they did pay $220 which made it a little easier on the pocket.

I will check out Dr. Greene. Thanks for the tip.

[bellyfatgone 0]

I would go to him but I am self pay and he is $7k higher than where I am going in Michigan....tomorrow!

You will not have to start all over again, and if you have insurance why did you pay out of pocket for you evaluation? That makes no sense.... some of these doctors are playing a game and it makes all doctors look bad.... good luck.

Good luck tomorrow!

[Just-Ice 1]

A TOUR of the hospital? WTF?

Does that include a Wine Tasting and cheese sampler, maybe a massage?

The crap that they "include" just amazes me.....

HH

lol, I would have liked a wine tasting and cheese sampler... the massage? definatley!

The "tour" consists of a walk through by the nurses that you will have from check-in to check-out. Maybe we get the wine and cheese then...:thumbup:

[lalida 0]

The surgeon i talk to today actually said they do give you a fuzzy robe and like let you put your feet in those foot massage machine. He said they try to make it like a spa experience apparently and that it keept patients from getting too nervous before surgery...idk it might be nice?

[bellyfatgone 0]

And who was this surgeon....I may have to fly to WA to get it done huh?