: Re: Another show on obesity surgery

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/6/2001 9:40:53 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

pieman@... writes:

<< Doctors know about it, or they should. The only promotion that is

called for is education of PCP-type doctors through medical journals,

etc. That way, all the people who need it will find out about it

through their doctor, as is appropriate. >>

When I mentioned WLS to my PCP, she tried to push herbalife on me, and I

would have had to pay an arm and a leg for it. She doesn't 'believe' in WLS.

If I hadn't heard about WLS from other sources I may not have had this life

changing opportunity. God knows I couldn't do it from anything else I had

tried.

Kim B.

Dr. Anthone, USC

DGB/DS 4/18/01

-52lbs

[Guest guest]

> Do you really think more people seeking benefits to cover WLS will

> " loosen the insurance companies up " ? Insurance companies are

>businesses. The more claims and payments they make, the less their

>profits. The more popular this operation becomes, the more they will

>restrict it. It is a fact that those whose lives depend on getting

>Bariatric surgery are victims of this phenomenon already.

I don't know , it seems more and more ins co's are backing down

from their bariatric surgery exclusions not creating them at least

thats the impression I got from my call to the Obeisty Law center.

> Consider that many use this operation for self-esteem and cosmetic

> purposes. This makes it easy for the insurers to justify

>restriction of the procedure.

I think that used to be the case but with more ins co's greater

acceptence of the NIH guidelines about >100 over ideal and >40 BMI

the cosmetic issues are for the still unenlightened. Sure the general

populous is not privy to the nuances of obesity but more and more ins

co personel are.

> I restate my thesis: the less publicity the better.

I couldn't disagree more. There are many out there who need this

surgery as much as you and I and don't know about it. There are PCPs

out there who could be educating their patients about it and they

don't know... the more educated the consumer the better coverage they

can demand from their employer's policy's and therefore the insurance

co's . The trend is more and more coverage for bariatric surgery not

less.. the tide is slowly turning, just not fast enough for most of

us!

Once hospitals see what a money maker bariatric surgery is the more

Drs. they will encourage to provide this service which will be of

help to all those who want DS but find no one locally to do the job.

The more publicity, the more enlightened the non obese public is

too.. that cant be bad either.

my two cents...

mary bmi 68

corona, ca

pre op 6/27/01 dr rabkin

cigna ppo

[Guest guest]

[snip]

they will

> >restrict it. It is a fact that those whose lives depend on getting

> >Bariatric surgery are victims of this phenomenon already.

>

> I don't know , it seems more and more ins co's are backing down

> from their bariatric surgery exclusions not creating them at least

> thats the impression I got from my call to the Obeisty Law center. [snip]

Hi just adding my 2-cents. Blue Cross Blue Sheild Anthem, up here in Maine

was approving the DS, and now they are not . This is one of the reasons ,

Dr. Aslam gave for not doing the DS anymore for at least a year. I am pretty

upset , to say the least. I don't know if its because of Anthem as they took

us over about a year ago. I don't think its very fair.

Darlene from Maine

Darlene

Pre-op

BMI 49

waiting ?????

[Guest guest]

pieman@... wrote:

> Doctors know about it, or they should. The only promotion that is

> called for is education of PCP-type doctors through medical journals,

> etc. That way, all the people who need it will find out about it

> through their doctor, as is appropriate.

My doctor wanted me to have the Fobi procedure again. Even though I told her

the first time failed. Even when I gave her copies of all the information on

the DS at USC, which was extensive. When I tried to educate her about it,

she kind of brushed me off a little and said " I only recommend Fobi because

it's what I know and I know him. " She also is learning under his tutilage to

perform tummy tucks to put her daughter through medical school. So she is

partial, like many doctors are. I think a lot of doctors don't know about it

or know very little and are biased against it if they are not FOR it. That

has been my unfortunate experience, anyway. I definitely was not recommended

for the best course of treatment by my own doctor...

Robin