In my previous post, This Diva is Downsizing, I was just beginning my journey into bariatric surgery. Through my research I made a list of doctors and hospitals to call for more information on weight loss surgery in the Central Florida area. I did call any and every doctor could find who takes my insurance. Again this search is specific to my own but it may be a good example of what you can do during your search. The impressions and opinions are strictly my own. I was not paid for promotion or a negative review of any of the following facilities or doctor offices. I may have caught someone on a busy day or they may be training someone new. Do not let my reviews discourage you from contacting any or all of the practitioners listed below, plus others I may have not included.
Univeristy of Florida/Shands-
I called and they do take my insurance, and medicare, medicaid, and any HMOs that fall under those plans. Most of their info is online, even the weight loss surgery introductory seminar. This is helpful because it saves a trip. I did not like that you are required to use their professionals throughout the whole process. This includes registered nutritionist, psychologist/counselor. Gainesville is 2-3 hours from me. This seems like a lot of trips. There is a copay or program fee, that everyone must pay, regardless of insurance, but I forgot how much.
USF----Dr. Murr
The USF site directs you to Dr. Murr's private practice site. It has lots of into as well. You can download and view their program handbook. This answers many questions you have about the surgery. You must call to request more information. It is a recorded voice mail box that asks you to leave your name and mailing address. I received the packet in about 2 weeks. It was very comprehansive. Dr. Murr also requires you to use his staff for other needed tests and assessments. There is a program fee of $795 that everyone must pay. You must also attend meetings to qualify you for your medically monitored weight loss attempts. Again, he is located in Tampa, FL which is about 2-3 hours away from me. Eh, let's see if I can find something better.
Dr. Sosa, South Florida area.
They do not take my insurance. Once they found this out, the person from his office did not want to talk with me. I guess I don't blame them. Do I don't know much about this practice.
Dr. Hoddinott, Ocala
He does accept my insurance. However he receptionist or whoever answers the phone seemed to be bothered by the fact that I had questions. I have also read on various websites that he does not do laproscopic surguries, only open surguries. This means that you will have a long line of a scar and you will be opened up for access to the stomach versus 5 incisions the size of a pin-head in laproscopic procedures. So, due to the unhelpful, cold attitude and the open surgery I decided to put him last on my list.
Celebration Hospital
LOL! I'm still waiting to hear back from them..... I sent an email, left a voicemail, talked to someone else at the office who directed me back to the voice mail inbox. I know they have done many procedures for people in the Orlando/Kissimmee area, but I don't know how in the world they got in contact with anyone. Plus they do not take my insurance, so I will gladly cross them off of my list.
Orlando Health
It was hard finding contact information to speak with the doctor who does the bariatric surgeries for the Orlando Health Hospital. I was able to get in touch with them. I don't think I wrote any information down. I guess they don't take my insurance. Plus I haven't heard much from the websites I visit about Orlando Health so if they did take my insurance I'd probably not include them on my list anyhow.
Dr. Ramos, Ocala
I fell in love with this office within seconds. His receptionist was so nice, and helpful. She answered all of my questions, mostly about insurance and requirements no matter how silly they might have sounded to me. By the end of the converstaion I was scheduled for a group orientation meeting with the doctor and she emailed me the documents I needed to bring before we hung up the phone! There is a $500 program fee. The doctor does not require you to use his preferred team to get your pre-op testing done. He does however give you a sheet of professionals who work with his office. Because Dr. Ramos is about 2.5 hours away from where I live I will use my primary and other local professionals to do my pre-op testing. The nutritionist also agreed to do phone interviews with me so I did not have to drive 2.5 hours for a 10 minute meeting.
Questions I asked when calling for information:
- I am interested in getting the RNY gastric bypass. Does your office do this procedure? If so, does the doctor perform laproscopic procedures if I qualify for that type?
- What insurances do you take?....I have United Health Care do you accept this insurance?
- Are there any program fees charged by your office separate of medical billing or co-pays?
- Can you give me a quick run-down of what my insurance company and/or the doctor might require as far as pre-op testing?
- Does your office allow me to use outside professionals/my primary for pre-op testing or do I have to go through your office for everything?
Once you get the answers to these you can start formulating your game plan and saving your money. ha!
Good luck!! Let me know how your info gathering went. Please comment below and share this page with friends. Next up...I'll talk about my first meeting with the doctor and what I did to lose weight on my own.
xoxo Diva Downsizing
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