Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 I just read the info about Pacific Bariatrics in the file section and I have a question for those of you who had it done there in San Diego. There is a huge section in that info that says that PB and Kaiser pay for your flight and hotel for the day before surgery and the days following. I was told by the " spokesperson " in my GBS class that they only pay for it if you are coming from out of state or northern california. Does anyone here live in southern california that had surgery at PB that can tell me their experience with this? From what I understand, PB requires you to stay near to them after surgery for 3 or 4 days. Thanks .... again Kym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Sorry, Kym, I’m from Northern CA so PB did pay for my flight and hotel. I’m not sure about Southern CA, but I think it’s based on some mile radius you are away from them. Also, sorry about the conflicting info. When I was initially going through this process last year, PB did not say anything to me about losing 10%. Only Dr. Tanaka told me when I went down there for my 3 consults (surgeon, psych & internist) that he wanted me to lose 10 lbs before surgery. They may have changed their protocol since then. I do remember, however, that I got weighed in officially at the PB seminar very early in the process. PB does seminars in Sacramento once a month and it sounds like they do others at various locations in CA on a monthly basis, too. I’m sure if you call them, they will tell you the closest one to where you are and when the next one is. I completely understand your frustration at already losing 20 lbs that may not “count” toward your pre-surgery weight loss. I think that is totally ridiculous – if you have your highest weight documented by Kaiser, they should use that and not discourage people from losing weight at any time. Don’t fear, though, it sounds like you’ll be approved anyway because of your co-morbidities. You should talk with your surgeon (when you get assigned to one) about the specific pre-surgery weight loss requirements for you…I think you’ll find your surgeon may be more flexible in that area than the “spokespeople” from Kaiser and/or PB. Good luck and hang in there. - Lesa - The week in San Diego I just read the info about Pacific Bariatrics in the file section and I have a question for those of you who had it done there in San Diego. There is a huge section in that info that says that PB and Kaiser pay for your flight and hotel for the day before surgery and the days following. I was told by the " spokesperson " in my GBS class that they only pay for it if you are coming from out of state or northern california. Does anyone here live in southern california that had surgery at PB that can tell me their experience with this? From what I understand, PB requires you to stay near to them after surgery for 3 or 4 days. Thanks .... again Kym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Same with me . Dr. Tanaka asked me to loose 20Lbs before surgery not a %. I'm in the Irvine area and Dr.T told me I would not have to stay around after my release. Maybe this will give Kym an Idea. RonLesa wrote: Sorry, Kym, I’m from Northern CA so PB did pay for my flight and hotel. I’m not sure about Southern CA, but I think it’s based on some mile radius you are away from them. Also, sorry about the conflicting info. When I was initially going through this process last year, PB did not say anything to me about losing 10%. Only Dr. Tanaka told me when I went down there for my 3 consults (surgeon, psych & internist) that he wanted me to lose 10 lbs before surgery. They may have changed their protocol since then. I do remember, however, that I got weighed in officially at the PB seminar very early in the process. PB does seminars in Sacramento once a month and it sounds like they do others at various locations in CA on a monthly basis, too. I’m sure if you call them, they will tell you the closest one to where you are and when the next one is. I completely understand your frustration at already losing 20 lbs that may not “count” toward your pre-surgery weight loss. I think that is totally ridiculous – if you have your highest weight documented by Kaiser, they should use that and not discourage people from losing weight at any time. Don’t fear, though, it sounds like you’ll be approved anyway because of your co-morbidities. You should talk with your surgeon (when you get assigned to one) about the specific pre-surgery weight loss requirements for you…I think you’ll find your surgeon may be more flexible in that area than the “spokespeople” from Kaiser and/or PB. Good luck and hang in there. - Lesa - -----Original Message-----From: KittyKym Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 11:35 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: The week in San Diego I just read the info about Pacific Bariatrics in the file section and I havea question for those of you who had it done there in San Diego.There is a huge section in that info that says that PB and Kaiser pay foryour flight and hotel for the day before surgery and the days following.I was told by the "spokesperson" in my GBS class that they only pay for itif you are coming from out of state or northern california.Does anyone here live in southern california that had surgery at PB that cantell me their experience with this?From what I understand, PB requires you to stay near to them after surgeryfor 3 or 4 days.Thanks .... again :)Kym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 Kaiser is not paying for my stay in San Diego. I have heard that the cut-off distance for them is 100 miles--I live 73 miles from the hospital. Since I live alone, and could not drive myself to San Diego in an emergency, Dr. agreed I had to stay in town, and said something about making it a " medical necessity " which I think is a magic phrase to make insurance cover things. But I have no promises or guarantees and plan to pay for it out of my own pocket. The Sommerset Suites, which is very near the hospital is giving me a decent rate for a studio (large) suite - $89/night - but if you don't mind being further away, you can pay less. PB gives you a list to choose from. My surgery is on a Tuesday and I have to be at the hospital the day before for 4 hours of pre-op, so I'll be staying at the Sommerset Suites Monday night. My sister-in-law will be there while I'm in the hospital, then I'll join her when I'm released--I hope by Thursday or Friday. I don't have my follow-up appointment with Dr. Leo scheduled yet, but I'm hoping it's for the following Monday, the 27th. Keep those questions coming! Pat Pre-Op (but not for long!) in SoCA Quoting KittyKym : > I just read the info about Pacific Bariatrics in the file section and I have > > a question for those of you who had it done there in San Diego. > > > > There is a huge section in that info that says that PB and Kaiser pay for > > your flight and hotel for the day before surgery and the days following. > > I was told by the " spokesperson " in my GBS class that they only pay for it > > if you are coming from out of state or northern california. > > Does anyone here live in southern california that had surgery at PB that can > > tell me their experience with this? > > > > From what I understand, PB requires you to stay near to them after surgery > > for 3 or 4 days. > > > > Thanks .... again > > Kym > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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