Because of the chances of complications with most how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery, they ought to be the pis aller after other sorts of weight loss methods have failed. Furthermore, they’re not just performed on just anybody, they’re meant for people whose BMI is 35 and have tried all other weight loss practices and have failed. They even have to undergo serious scrutiny to determine that they are doing not have any underlying issues which may cause serious complications. this text gives an analysis of how long it takes to be approved for gastric sleeve surgery.
Contents
- 1 Educational Seminar
- 2 Consultation with a Surgeon
- 3 Nutritional and behavior therapy Class
- 4 Consultation with a Nutritionist and Psychologist
- 5 Preliminary Tests and Screenings
- 6 Multidisciplinary Review Approval
- 7 Insurance Authorization Process
- 8 Pre-Operative Class
- 9 Pre-Operative Workup
- 10 Medicaid’s Requirement for Weight Loss Surgery
- 11 Criteria for Weight Loss Surgery Cost Coverage Through Medicaid
- 12 What Weight Loss Procedures Will Medicaid Cover?
- 13 Other Considerations for Medicaid
Educational Seminar
Before the surgery, an education seminar is organized, which is supposed to teach the patient on everything you would like to understand about gastric sleeve surgery. during this process, you’ll be presented with videos in order that you’ll remember the risks, benefits, the method, and therefore the possible complications which will arise after the surgery.
Consultation with a Surgeon
Before you’re operated, you want to have a sit down together with your surgeon, a time how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery during which the surgeon will examine your health history. they’re going to also ask you questions regarding your wellbeing to understand whether you’re an eligible candidate for this sort of surgery. The surgeon then forwards your medical file to a multidisciplinary approval committee for further scrutiny.
Nutritional and behavior therapy Class
The next step involves you undergoing a behavior and nutritional modification class in order that you’ll be educated on what habits to adopt and what habits to drop, both behavioral and nutritional wise. this is often because there are foods you would like to drop, sometime before and after the surgery. There also are habits you’ll get to stop like taking alcohol.
Consultation with a Nutritionist and Psychologist
This step involves how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery the patient undergoing consultation with a nutritionist and a psychological counselor. this is often meant to recommend the required foods to require, what amounts and the way often you ought to take that specific food.
The psychologist is supposed to assist you to get prepared for the surgery in order that you are doing away with any fears. This approximately takes 1-2 weeks after the nutritional class.
Preliminary Tests and Screenings
Conclusive preliminary tests and screenings are run to determine any underlying issues how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery together with your health. These include blood, urinalysis, nicotine screen, blood group and screen, HCG for menstruating women, and history, and physical exam. The test results take up to six weeks to return back.
Multidisciplinary Review Approval
After the tests and screenings, results are out. The file is passed on to a multidisciplinary approval review committee for further scrutiny. This step is vital because it’s at this stage that the test results are analyzed to determine the underlying issues together with your health and determine if you’re eligible for the surgery or not.
Insurance Authorization Process
After you’ve got been approved for the surgery by the multidisciplinary review approval, the subsequent process involves contacting how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery your insurance provider for authorization before the surgery is performed on you. this is often meant to barter the payment process, during which case if your insurance provider doesn’t authorize the surgery, you’ll be required to hide the fees directly from your pocket. This process takes approximately 30 days.
Pre-Operative Class
After your insurance has authorized the surgery, you’ll then undergo a pre-operative education class to teach and remind you on than necessary nutritional and behavior that you simply should adopt, before and after the surgery. Without this class, then the patient won’t know the proper nutritional and behavior habits to adopt and drop. This happens approximately 1-2 weeks before your scheduled surgery.
Pre-Operative Workup
A comprehensive test and screening are completed again, and this takes place approximately 5 days before your scheduled surgery date. These tests are alleged to act as control tests for the primary series of tests that were previously how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery wiped out the sooner stage of this process. These tests include blood group screening, nicotine screening, physical and health history, urinalysis, BCG, and complete blood count.
The next step is that the surgery itself. A licensed medical surgeon performs it, with the patient sedated. it always takes around 1-3 hours and 2-3 days to stay within the single bed after the surgery. The stay within the hospital how to restart weight loss after gastric bypass varies counting on the chances of complications that will arise and therefore the patient’s health strength. However, there’s no cause for alarm since in normal cases, there should be no complications, not unless something unusual happened, and this is often very rare. the foremost common side effects are nausea and mild abdominal pains.
Medicaid’s Requirement for Weight Loss Surgery
Medicaid’s requirements for weight loss surgery coverage are a touch different as compared to other insurance plans, typically because Medicaid how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery is exclusive in who they cover and the way they cover their patients. you would like to satisfy a variety of specific requirements so as to qualify for weight loss surgery through Medicaid, and you furthermore may get to be free from any medical issues that might prevent you from having surgery. If you pass these two tests, then Medicaid will generally buy your weight loss surgery.
Criteria for Weight Loss Surgery Cost Coverage Through Medicaid
In order for Medicaid to completely cover the value of your surgery also because of the associated visits together with your surgeon, you’re getting to got to meet all of the subsequent criteria.
- You will get to be over the age of 13 if you’re a female or over the age of 15 if you’re a male.
- Your Body Mass Index (BMI) must exceed 35 and you want to have a minimum of one comorbidity, like high vital signs, apnea, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
- If you’re below the age of 21, you would like to possess a Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeding 40 with a minimum of one among the aforementioned comorbidities.
- You must have a printed letter from your medical care physician recommending the medical necessity of weight loss surgery.
- You need to pass a psychological state exam showing that you simply are capable of adopting the required lifestyle changes for weight loss.
- You must be ready to provide documentation showing that you simply have tried how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery to manage your weight and comorbidities using a standard treatment, but that those attempts were unsuccessful.
- You must complete a medically supervised program for weight loss spanning 6 months, and you would like to point out the documentation that this weight loss program was attempted within the past 12 months before surgery.
Some people won’t qualify for weight loss surgery through Medicaid. If you’ve got any of the subsequent conditions or issues, you’ll not qualify.
- Long-term use of steroids
- Malignant cancer
- Chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or pregnancy
- Non-compliance with medical treatments
- Psychological treatment that would interfere together with your new diet and lifestyle
What Weight Loss Procedures Will Medicaid Cover?
Assuming how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery that you simply meet all of the standards mentioned above, Medicaid can pay the coverage for the subsequent weight loss surgery procedures:
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Gastric sleeve surgery
- Lap gastric bands (Lap Band, Realize Band)
Other Considerations for Medicaid
One of the wants for Medicaid to buy your surgery coverage is that you simply got to have your weight loss surgery done through the middle for Excellence. Bariatric Center for Excellence accreditation is meant to point which bariatric surgery centers have achieved A level of excellence when it involves administering bariatric surgery. Medicaid requires that you simply visit one among these specific centers to ensure that you get the simplest possible treatment.
If you’ve got questions on your Medicaid coverage and whether or not your coverage can pay for weight loss surgery, the simplest thing to try to do is to contact the people at Medicaid on to discuss your coverage. There are many sorts of surgery that you simply can undergo weight loss, but Medicaid how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery only covers the foremost common ones. If you’re looking to possess a special sort of weight loss surgery apart from gastric bypass, lap gastric banding, or gastric sleeve surgery, then you’ll get to search for a special sort of coverage otherwise you will get to pay out-of-pocket for the procedure.
*Medicaid won’t buy weight loss surgery in Mexico
Passed a psychological evaluation.
All other treatable medical diseases are ruled out as a possible cause of your obesity. Adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid screening tests are completed and are normal.
Types of weight-loss surgeries covered by Medicare
The following procedures are currently covered by Medicare:
- Gastric Bypass
- Lap Band or Realize Band Surgery
- Duodenal Switch
- Sleeve Gastrectomy is roofed on a regional basis – have an area bariatric surgeons office check for you or call your local Medicare administrator’s office.
Are Lap Band fills covered?
Yes. After gastric band surgery, fills are covered.
Procedures excluded from coverage
Any procedure ex-directory within the coverage section is taken into account experimental and Medicare how long does it take medicaid to approve weight loss surgery currently doesn’t provide coverage.
Does Medicare Require Surgery in the middle of Excellence?
Medicare does not require the middle of Excellence.
Medicare’s weight loss surgery full coverage statement
Medicare’s full weight loss policy and more information are out there here.
