Please Look at this

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HEY EVERYONE - THE LETTER BELOW WAS POSTED ON THE 11TH ...... AM I THE ONLY

ONE WHO READ IT AND SEES A PROBLEM HERE?

O'Kelley

Subj: Re: Digest Number 1292

Date: 5/11/00 11:08:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

From: m00nfyre2000@...

Reply-to: MiniGastricBypass (AT) e

To: MiniGastricBypass (AT) e

Hello all,

Many of you may not know me as I do not post often. I fought for insurance

approval for 7 months to no avail I was then referred to a state agency for

assistance in paying for MGB. Prior to my counselor submitting for approval

from the state level, she told me to contact Dr. R and make sure he would

accept payment at the Medicaid rate. On April 18, Dr. R's office notified me

by email that they WOULD accept payment at the medicaid rate. On May 5, my

counselor got me approved for services and on that same day, Dr. R decided to

not take medicaid anymore. I wrote emails asking since I had just been told

2 weeks prior that he would accept it, would he honor that committment. This

is his response:

Hi,

Unfortunately the rate that Medicaid pays is not enough to pay for the

equipment let alone for any of the other services needed for the surgery.

Since we are at present overwhelmed with new patients I have put a hold on

Medicaid patients for six months.

We have many in process and will need to wait on patients for a while.

Sorry.

RR

Rutledge, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The Center for Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery

4301 Ben lin Blvd.

Durham, N.C. 27704

Telephone #:

Fax #:

Email: DrR@...

I wrote again asking for exception, since he has JUST told me otherwise. I

begged him not to be the final " NO " . I got absolutely NO response from him.

I have been a champion of Dr. Rutledge since I started this process back in

November. But now I see that this man has absolutely no compassion (atleast

for me) and cannot see past the $$$ in his eyes. The difference between what

he would be paid by regular insurance and what he would be paid from me and

the state adds up to about $500. So Dr R losing $500 dictated his decision

to deny me services. I find it appalling that a man who is supposedly so

dedicated to the plight of the obese, would determine my fate for $500. This

list is supposed to be for the purpose of learning the good with the bad.

Well, heres some of the bad that you wont normally hear about. I am sure

some of you will flame me for this, but I feel that everyone should know that

not all patients get the same treatment. Some people dont even get seen at

the hospital prior to discharge. As a nurse, that is also appalling to me.

Any how, this will be my final post as I am unsubscribing from the lists. I

wish you all the best of luck. For those of you that know me and know what I

have been thru, I am happy to report that I do have APPROVAL and will be

having Lap RNY within the next several months!!!!!!!

Take care and Godspeed to everyone,

Tara Case