Re: Need help locating doctors in TN that do DS

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know of a Dr. Cowan in Memphis? He is doing something known

as the Memphis by-pass. I'm not sure how similar / different it is to the DS.

Bev

[Guest guest]

At 06:470 +0000 10/10/01, Sprenkle sat down at the computer,

and sent this message:

>After reading up on all the different WLS I have decided on DS, but

>am having trouble finding a doctor in TN that does the procedure.

>Will I have to leave the state and go somewhere else.

>

>Do any of you have trouble with the insurance paying for this

>particular procedure?

>

>Any information would be helpful. THanks,

Liz, I too live in TN (western part, in ) and when I began my

journey I found no surgeon here who did this procedure. There is one

in Nashville who has just started doing it...I am working through Dr.

Booth's LifeSHAPE program in Ocean Springs, MS, however.

BC/BS of TN is the insurance carrier I am currently fighting to get

this surgery; I've been denied twice now.

Good luck to you and your journey!

--stella

[Guest guest]

Liz,

It really depends on your insurance company, your specific policy and

then your BMI, co-morbs, insurance company having all the paperwork

needed, etc. I have Great West PPO/One Health Plan PPO and my policy

required that it was medically necessary, but didn't have any

exclusions. My LOMN (Letter of Medical Necessity) was sent this

Monday and I was approved this Tuesday. I also live in Colorado and

will be going out of state for surgery, but it wasn't even brought up

as an issue. It really depends on what kind of plan you have, etc.

You can also find a list of surgeons and their locations on

www.duodenalswitch.com

Good luck!!

Anita

Insurance: Great West PPO - approved in 24 hours

Surgery Date scheduled: 11/08/01

Surgeon: Dr Ara Keshishian/Delano, CA

> After reading up on all the different WLS I have decided on DS, but

> am having trouble finding a doctor in TN that does the procedure.

> Will I have to leave the state and go somewhere else.

>

> Do any of you have trouble with the insurance paying for this

> particular procedure?

>

> Any information would be helpful. THanks,

> Liz

[Guest guest]

At 09:440 -0400 10/10/01, bpayne1013@... sat down at the

computer, and sent this message:

>Does anyone know of a Dr. Cowan in Memphis? He is doing

>something known as the Memphis by-pass. I'm not sure how similar /

>different it is to the DS.

It is basically the RnY procedure. I went to Dr. Cowan a couple of

years ago when I first decided upon WLS. I gave up when I was told

that the 'dumping' was a good thing, etc., and learned of the weight

regain problem.

Then I discovered the DS/BPD (thanks to Jackie Ward!), and began hoping again.

-stella