Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 In a message dated 8/16/00 5:37:31 AM Central Daylight Time, jrclark@... writes: << Dr. Farrell at UNC. >> Hi Robin, I have a good friend at work that just went through surgery with Dr. Farrell. watched my progress for months and applied for surgery with Dr. Rutledge, which her insurance ( Generations) turned down. Dr R filed an appeal for her and she won but they said Dr R was out of network and referred her to Dr Farrell. She was exhausted from fighting and went to Dr Farrell...Long story short....her surgery lasted 6 1/2 hours and she had to return to surgey the next day for a leak. She has been out of work for 3 weeks and probably will be for another couple. This is not to say that Dr. Farrell is not a good doctor, but that his experience and the procedure does not begin to compare to Dr Rutledge. She has little instructions to follow and most of her information came from Dr R's book. Without that she had a million questions!! She has had a long recovery so far but is starting to do better.... My suggestion: if you fight long and hard enough to get surgery, then fighting for the procedure and the doctor you really want should be of utmost importance!! At least give it all you've got!! And them some!! Show them the numbers....insurance co.'s love to save money!! Oh, Dr Farrell's office would not elaborate on the amount of surgeries he has done. Ok, thats all for now. Have a great day! in Raleigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 Kudos from me too. You didn't hurt anyone, you helped yourself, and the information came from the source, so who can refute it? Sounds like a good resolution to me. Re: Dr. Farrell > Sneaky??? No, I think you were very, very wise!!! Way to go!!! That is > called being in control of your health and life!!! > > Kudos, > Tricia in IL > > jrclark@... wrote: > > > > So here is where I get sneaky and I know none of you would ever do > > this. But, I called Dr. Farrells office yesterday and pretended I > > was my insurance company looking for information about his wls > > procedure. I explained that I had a patient that met criteria for > > wls and she wanted to go out of network and I was looking at his > > practice because he was in our network. They put me right through to > > him. / > > > > This message is from the Mini-Gastric Bypass Mailing List at Onelist.com > Please visit our web site at http://clos.net > Get the Patient Manual at http://clos.net/get_patient_manual.htm > > To Unsubscribe Send and Email to: MiniGastricBypass-unsubscribe (AT) egroups (DOT) com > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 Oooooh, you are *GOOOD!!!!!* What a great story! jrclark@... wrote: > > Hi > > I have been on this list for about 4 weeks working on my packet and > going through what most pre-ops go through with their insurance > companies. Dr. R. has ask that I share something with you. > I have a POS with Kanawaha Healthcare Solutions Inc. The insurance > letter that Dr. R. provided went over very well with my insurance > company however, there is one surgeon in our net work that provides > wls and my insurance company wanted me to see him first. His name is > Dr. Farrell at UNC. > I called his office to make an appointment and our PCP can't make the > referral to see him. He requires all of his MO patients (morbid > obesity-this is what the office staff calls us)to go throuth the > diabetes clinic (even if you don't have diabetes) first. I called > the clinic, the next avaiable appoint for new patients is Jan. 2001. > So, I called Dr. Farrells office back and told them that I could not > get an appointment for 5 months. I ask them to give me some > information about surgery type, # done, etc.. They only told me " we > think he does lap. RUY " . (Notice the quotation marks). Feeling very > frustrated because I could not get the information I needed to show > my insurance c. that Dr. R. and the MGB was the better deal even if > out of network. I asked them to send me some information. I was > assuming I would get some information about him, the services his > office provides etc.. Nope, what I got was the general handbook put > out by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery in Gainsville, FL. > Now this book is good information if you are just starting your > research on wls. It goes throught the different types of surgery and > possible complications. Nothing about his stats, what surgery he > does, etc. > So here is where I get sneaky and I know none of you would ever do > this. But, I called Dr. Farrells office yesterday and pretended I > was my insurance company looking for information about his wls > procedure. I explained that I had a patient that met criteria for > wls and she wanted to go out of network and I was looking at his > practice because he was in our network. They put me right through to > him. He tells me that his WLS program > is just getting started. He is doing the RUY. I asked him if he > was doing open or lap procedures. His response was " I almost always > begin > with a lap procedure " . When I asked him how many he had done there > was > a > pause so I supplied less than 50 and he said " Yes, less than 50 " . No > worries there, NOT! I couldn't get fees because his office doesn't > keep up with this yet. > > Dr. R. wanted me to post just in case someone on this list might want > to go to him. > > I spoke with my insurance company after talking with Dr. Farrell and > I will be approved for surgery with Dr. R. YEA!!! They will make a > decision about about paying in network or out of net work rates by > monday. > They tell me that they will call Dr. R. office next week and work out > an agreement for a " reasonable and customary fee " . Look out Debbie, > Kanawah (4 county health network) will be calling you next week. Our > insurance management group has never had a request for wls, hope that > will be to your advantage. > > Well I have blabbed enough. I am hoping to have surgery the end of > sept or around the first of Oct if approved by Dr. R. > > Robin > , NC > BMI 52 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2000 Report Share Posted August 16, 2000 Sneaky??? No, I think you were very, very wise!!! Way to go!!! That is called being in control of your health and life!!! Kudos, Tricia in IL jrclark@... wrote: > > So here is where I get sneaky and I know none of you would ever do > this. But, I called Dr. Farrells office yesterday and pretended I > was my insurance company looking for information about his wls > procedure. I explained that I had a patient that met criteria for > wls and she wanted to go out of network and I was looking at his > practice because he was in our network. They put me right through to > him. / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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