I have Medicare and when I checked into surgery on Oct., '06, the said they only approve of Centers of Excellence which simply means they have to perform so many surgeries per year.  At that time my closest choices were Louisville, KY, St. Vincent's in Carmel, IN or Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN.  I contacted St. Vincent's and was told at that time I had to have most pre-surgery things done there and the required support group meetings could be there or Bloomington.  I think they have since reconsidered on that.  Vanderbilt said I could do everything here except visits to my nutritionist so they won out for me.  I paid my part for the psychological evaluation and I had to pay $180 up front for the nutritionist.  The rest that I was billed for after surgery was around $1400 and I applied for financial aid and was granted 100% so I paid nothing else.  PRAISE GOD!!!   I am scheduled to see a surgeon in June to have the excess skin removed so I'll see if Medicare will pay for that.  I loved Vanderbilt.  They did a wonderful job.  I had NO pain after surgery and no problems.  I was told it would probably be 6 mo. to get surgery scheduled but it was 2 months, 1 day from the time I went to the informational seminar to the day I had surgery.  If you call Medicare, they will tell you the hospitals they approve of.  I don't know anyting about Medicaid.

Julia Adam   

----- Original Message -----
From: D'Ann Christian <hazyseptember@...>
Date: Friday, April 4, 2008 22:51
Subject: RE: [GastricBypassVanderburghIN] Where and Who????
To: GastricBypassVanderburghIN@yahoogroups.com

> Hi there,
>
> Some of us went to St. Mary's Bariatric clinic.  They have
> a really great
> program, that really informs you of everything that you will
> have to do
> before and after surgery.  I'm not sure what all insurance
> they take.  But
> they are really nice and could answer those questions for you.
>
>  
>
> Any one else know about Medicare/Medicaid in this area?
>
>  
>
> D'Ann  
> Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Col 3:2
>
> see my family   <http://www.hazyseptember.com>
> www.hazyseptember.comare you wondering about weight loss surgery
> or have had one? join this
> group:
> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GastricBypassVanderburghIN/
> Learn about our local parks and meet me at the park, join our
> group to see
> where we will be next:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EvansvilleParks/
>
>
>  
>
>  
>
>   _____ 
>
> From: GastricBypassVanderburghIN@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:GastricBypassVanderburghIN@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> StephanieSent: Friday, April 04, 2008 10:30 PM
> To: GastricBypassVanderburghIN@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [GastricBypassVanderburghIN] Where and Who????
>
>  
>
> Hello I just found this site tonight.
> I have asked my family physician about gastric bypass surgery, his
> office says that the only place that they know of offering it in this
> area doesn't take Medicare/Medicaid So I have to set up my own.
>
> Where do I start? Help! Please!
> Thanks, Luckylady2023
>
>  
>
>