Seeing a surgeon out of state...HELP!

April 11, 2001

? Have you looked into Dr. Elariny in Arlington VA?? Surely he is closer than NY.....His number is 1-...He does DS Lap...Bobbi-jo

April 11, 2001

? Have you looked into Dr. Elariny in Arlington VA?? Surely he is closer than NY.....His number is 1-...He does DS Lap...Bobbi-jo

April 11, 2001

? Have you looked into Dr. Elariny in Arlington VA?? Surely he is closer than NY.....His number is 1-...He does DS Lap...Bobbi-jo

April 11, 2001

Hi,

With all the problems I've been having with appointments getting

canceled and rescheduled, I'm seriously thinking of going to NY to see Dr.

Gagner about lap DS WLS. I sent him an email and he responded the same

day. Of course, he wants me to come to NY for a consult...this is where

the problems begin! My insurance, MD IPA won't cover out of network

providers, which I'm assuming Dr. Gagner is since he is out of state. I

can't afford $200.00 for a out of pocket consult, plus travel expenses from

MD to NY. Does anyone have any suggestions? I asked if he could do a

*phone* consult and the answer was a BIG NO!

Health insurance open enrollment is September 2001, so I can switch to

a different insurance then. Does anyone know which plans will cover the

surgery with Dr. Gagner?

in MD

pre-op

April 12, 2001

I was once scheduled for Dr Gagner. I made arrangements to have all the pre

op stuff done here in Seattle. I was to see him the day before surgery and

then have surgery the next day. This is easily arranged with his nurse.

Many people come there just for the surgery and don't go in for an advance

consult.

When in doubt, ask a nurse.

in Seattle

DS 1/5/01 295# BMI 47.6

4/5/01 240# BMI 38

Dr Welker - OHSU

----- Original Message -----

> With all the problems I've been having with appointments getting

> canceled and rescheduled, I'm seriously thinking of going to NY to see Dr.

> Gagner about lap DS WLS. I sent him an email and he responded the same

> day. Of course, he wants me to come to NY for a consult...this is where

> the problems begin! My insurance, MD IPA won't cover out of network

> providers, which I'm assuming Dr. Gagner is since he is out of state. I

> can't afford $200.00 for a out of pocket consult, plus travel expenses

from

> MD to NY. Does anyone have any suggestions? I asked if he could do a

> *phone* consult and the answer was a BIG NO!

April 12, 2001

Subject: Re: Seeing a surgeon out of state...HELP!

I was once scheduled for Dr Gagner. I made arrangements to have all the

pre

op stuff done here in Seattle. I was to see him the day before surgery and

then have surgery the next day. This is easily arranged with his nurse.

Many people come there just for the surgery and don't go in for an advance

consult.

When in doubt, ask a nurse.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

,

You never saw Dr. Gagner for a consult prior to your surgery? Who

explain all the WLS options, possible complications, etc. to you? What did

he do when he saw you the day before surgery? Who sent in all the

insurance paper work and got you approved? Who is his nurse that you

arranged things with?

Here is what Dr. Gagner wrote to me in response to my email:

dear Ms. Vaszil,

We have to ensure that you really fit criteria for this surgery. I feel it

is

important that we see each other before surgery and discuss properly the

options, risks, benefits and complications. Ms. Ivonne will help you

organizing all the different pieces necessary. Mr. Darryl can tell

you

which plans are more favorable for the DS, in land. 1-.

Sincerely,

Michel Gagner, MD

______________________________ Reply Separator

_________________________________

Subject: DS lap WLS

Author: JVaszil@...> at Internet-Mail

Date: 4/4/01 3:38 PM

Hello Dr. Gagner,

My name is , I live in land (MD) and I'm hoping to have

WLS. I

really want to have the DS done lap and I'm having trouble finding a

surgeon in

my area that does the DS lap. I receive both the OSSG list and the

duodenalswitch list and I've read so many good things about you from post

op

patients. I've considered coming to NY for the surgery and that's what I

have

questions about. I understand that you get quite a few *out of townie's*

coming

to you for the surgery. With such a long commute, how is the consult,

surgery

care, and post op care handled. MD IPA is the insurance I have now and

they do

not cover any out of network providers, which I'm assuming you are since

you're

out of state? I have the option of switching to a variety of other health

insurance programs since I work for the federal government. The down side

is

open enrollment is not until September 2001. Could you tell me what

insurance

plans would approve WLS for me with you as the surgeon?

Thank you for your reply!

April 12, 2001

Subject: Re: Seeing a surgeon out of state...HELP!

I was once scheduled for Dr Gagner. I made arrangements to have all the

pre

op stuff done here in Seattle. I was to see him the day before surgery and

then have surgery the next day. This is easily arranged with his nurse.

Many people come there just for the surgery and don't go in for an advance

consult.

When in doubt, ask a nurse.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

,

You never saw Dr. Gagner for a consult prior to your surgery? Who

explain all the WLS options, possible complications, etc. to you? What did

he do when he saw you the day before surgery? Who sent in all the

insurance paper work and got you approved? Who is his nurse that you

arranged things with?

Here is what Dr. Gagner wrote to me in response to my email:

dear Ms. Vaszil,

We have to ensure that you really fit criteria for this surgery. I feel it

is

important that we see each other before surgery and discuss properly the

options, risks, benefits and complications. Ms. Ivonne will help you

organizing all the different pieces necessary. Mr. Darryl can tell

you

which plans are more favorable for the DS, in land. 1-.

Sincerely,

Michel Gagner, MD

______________________________ Reply Separator

_________________________________

Subject: DS lap WLS

Author: JVaszil@...> at Internet-Mail

Date: 4/4/01 3:38 PM

Hello Dr. Gagner,

My name is , I live in land (MD) and I'm hoping to have

WLS. I

really want to have the DS done lap and I'm having trouble finding a

surgeon in

my area that does the DS lap. I receive both the OSSG list and the

duodenalswitch list and I've read so many good things about you from post

op

patients. I've considered coming to NY for the surgery and that's what I

have

questions about. I understand that you get quite a few *out of townie's*

coming

to you for the surgery. With such a long commute, how is the consult,

surgery

care, and post op care handled. MD IPA is the insurance I have now and

they do

not cover any out of network providers, which I'm assuming you are since

you're

out of state? I have the option of switching to a variety of other health

insurance programs since I work for the federal government. The down side

is

open enrollment is not until September 2001. Could you tell me what

insurance

plans would approve WLS for me with you as the surgeon?

Thank you for your reply!

April 12, 2001

Subject: Re: Seeing a surgeon out of state...HELP!

I was once scheduled for Dr Gagner. I made arrangements to have all the

pre

op stuff done here in Seattle. I was to see him the day before surgery and

then have surgery the next day. This is easily arranged with his nurse.

Many people come there just for the surgery and don't go in for an advance

consult.

When in doubt, ask a nurse.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

,

You never saw Dr. Gagner for a consult prior to your surgery? Who

explain all the WLS options, possible complications, etc. to you? What did

he do when he saw you the day before surgery? Who sent in all the

insurance paper work and got you approved? Who is his nurse that you

arranged things with?

Here is what Dr. Gagner wrote to me in response to my email:

dear Ms. Vaszil,

We have to ensure that you really fit criteria for this surgery. I feel it

is

important that we see each other before surgery and discuss properly the

options, risks, benefits and complications. Ms. Ivonne will help you

organizing all the different pieces necessary. Mr. Darryl can tell

you

which plans are more favorable for the DS, in land. 1-.

Sincerely,

Michel Gagner, MD

______________________________ Reply Separator

_________________________________

Subject: DS lap WLS

Author: JVaszil@...> at Internet-Mail

Date: 4/4/01 3:38 PM

Hello Dr. Gagner,

My name is , I live in land (MD) and I'm hoping to have

WLS. I

really want to have the DS done lap and I'm having trouble finding a

surgeon in

my area that does the DS lap. I receive both the OSSG list and the

duodenalswitch list and I've read so many good things about you from post

op

patients. I've considered coming to NY for the surgery and that's what I

have

questions about. I understand that you get quite a few *out of townie's*

coming

to you for the surgery. With such a long commute, how is the consult,

surgery

care, and post op care handled. MD IPA is the insurance I have now and

they do

not cover any out of network providers, which I'm assuming you are since

you're

out of state? I have the option of switching to a variety of other health

insurance programs since I work for the federal government. The down side

is

open enrollment is not until September 2001. Could you tell me what

insurance

plans would approve WLS for me with you as the surgeon?

Thank you for your reply!

April 12, 2001

I chose not to go to NYC but had my surgery instead nearer home. However, I

have a wonderful PCP here and he did all my pre op workup and is following

me now post op. I called his office and arranged it with his nurse. I

can't recall her name. But this is very common for people to come and see

him once and have surgery the next day. I got a list of the required tests

and would have had them done before I went to see him. This is the standard

way for people who live too far away to go to their surgeon in advance. I

did go to Portland to see my surgeon before surgery. But that is only a 3

hour drive.

in Seattle

DS 1/5/01 295# BMI 47.6

4/5/01 240# BMI 38

Dr Welker - OHSU

DS lap WLS

> Author: JVaszil@...> at Internet-Mail

> Date: 4/4/01 3:38 PM

>

> Hello Dr. Gagner,

> My name is , I live in land (MD) and I'm hoping to have

> WLS. I

> really want to have the DS done lap and I'm having trouble finding a

> surgeon in

> my area that does the DS lap. I receive both the OSSG list and the

> duodenalswitch list and I've read so many good things about you from post

> op

> patients. I've considered coming to NY for the surgery and that's what I

> have

> questions about. I understand that you get quite a few *out of townie's*

> coming

> to you for the surgery. With such a long commute, how is the consult,

> surgery

> care, and post op care handled. MD IPA is the insurance I have now and

> they do

> not cover any out of network providers, which I'm assuming you are since

> you're

> out of state? I have the option of switching to a variety of other health

> insurance programs since I work for the federal government. The down side

> is

> open enrollment is not until September 2001. Could you tell me what

> insurance

> plans would approve WLS for me with you as the surgeon?

>

> Thank you for your reply!

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

April 12, 2001