Premature submission to Kaiser?

[Guest guest]

I know most of the members are from California and the guidelines are

different in CA than they are on the East Coast. I'm told that I

need to attend 6 monthly meetings with a nutritionist before Kaiser

will approve the surgery. However, Kaiser is Kaiser and I'm

wondering if it would be detrimental to have my PCP submit the

paperwork without waiting the full 6 months. If there's even a slim

chance they would approve without waiting the full 6 months, I'd like

to take that chance. If not, would it hurt my chances for approval

once I've finished the 6 months with the nutritionist? Any idea?

[Guest guest]

I'm told that I need to attend 6 monthly meetings with a

nutritionist before Kaiser will approve the surgery....

Hi Lori -

You're right about Kaiser, being Kaiser and all areas having

different criteria.

Here in southern CA, it differs slightly from northern CA. In order

for the paperwork to be forwarded for approval, we had to complete

the following: labs (bloodwork, 24-hour urine, EKG), Psych eval and a

12 week Bariatric Nutrition class. A gall bladder ultrasound is also

required but not for the Kaiser approval process (however, it is

required before we meet with the surgeons at Pacific Bariatric).

Angie