Does Medicaid Cover Weight Loss Surgery
Weight reduction surgery is covered by Medicaid If your insurance coverage allows weight reduction surgery, it will only be covered if you meet the following criteria: you have a qualifying body mass index of 35 or higher with obesity-related health issues, or you have a qualifying BMI of 40 or higher without obesity-related health problems.
The Costs Of Bariatric Surgery
The cost of weight loss surgery varies dramatically depending on the type of surgery you choose, whether its covered by your insurance and where you have the surgery performed. The average price varies considerably by state doctors and hospitals in each state charge different rates. Gastric sleeve surgery ranges from $9,600 to $26,000 across the United States for patients who pay without insurance.
Other Considerations For Medicaid
One of the requirements for Medicaid to pay for your surgery coverage is that you need to have your weight loss surgery done through a Center for Excellence. Bariatric Center for Excellence accreditation is designed to indicate which bariatric surgery centers have achieved a level of excellence when it comes to administering bariatric surgery. Medicaid requires that you visit one of these specific centers to guarantee that you get the best possible treatment.
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If you have questions about your Medicaid coverage and whether or not your coverage will pay for weight loss surgery, the best thing to do is to contact the people at Medicaid directly to discuss your coverage. There are many types of surgery that you can undergo weight loss, but Medicaid only covers the most common ones.
If youre looking to have a different type of weight loss surgery aside from gastric bypass, lap gastric banding, or gastric sleeve surgery, then you will need to look for a different type of insurance coverage or you will need to pay out-of-pocket for the procedure.
*Medicaid will not pay for weight loss surgery in Mexico
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How To Get Weight Loss Surgery Approved
Our primary focus is on your long-term well-being. We will only recommend weight loss surgery if it is a medically safe option for you. We also base our recommendations on your willingness to commit to permanent lifestyle changes. Our comprehensive approach gives you all the support you need to be successful. If surgery is not the answer, we can still help you lose weight with our medical weight loss program.
Our Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program
Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Centers Bariatric Surgery program also offers a comprehensive program for people who want to lose weight, but surgery is not a desire or option. The Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program is an ideal avenue for patients who may exceed the weight limit for surgery, do not have insurance to cover the cost of surgery or may just be interested in losing only 20 to 30 pounds. The program, underway since November 2012, helps people make realistic dietary changes under the continuous guidance of a physician, dietitian and lifestyle counselor.
Benjamin Doga, MD, oversees the program at Acadiana Weight Loss Surgery, located at Ochsner Lafayette General Surgical Hospital An Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center Campus. Scheduled visits occur every Tuesday and include sessions with a dietitian. The goal is to help people safely lose weight and keep it off by learning new food choices and habits. It is essentially a lifestyle modification program that pursues the best course for each individual.
Participants can choose a three-month or six-month plan. Dr. Doga will evaluate patients to help determine their best options, which can include a customized diet and/or pharmaceutical assistance to help suppress appetite and participants will receive constant support from professionals throughout the program.
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Powered By Bariatric Specialists
Our Bariatric Surgery Department is accredited as a Comprehensive Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery‘s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program . We believe surgery is a tool, not a cure, to help patients lead a healthy life.
Along with the surgeons, Philip Gachassin, MD, Dennis Eschete, MD, and Robert Autin, MD, the bariatric support team includes a registered nurse, dietitian, patient advocate, behavior modification educator, licensed practical counselor and certified personal trainer.
Types of surgery:
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band
- Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve
- Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch
Weight Loss Surgery Costs To Consider
Read time: 4 minutes
TL DR
- Excess weight is not only uncomfortable, it also imposes a variety of financial burdens, such as medications and health problems.
- Bariatric surgery is an investment in your life that can help you make a change for the better.
- Weight loss can save you money in the long run with lower medical costs as you age.
- The cost for gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Thomas Borland is $11,300. This is less than the national average of $16,800 and less than the $15,400 average in Louisiana.
- There are options available to help you pay for bariatric surgery. Insurance and Medicaid are not accepted by Dr. Borland, but financing is available.
Dropping weight and working toward a healthier you is an investment in the future. If youre considering bariatric surgery, you may be concerned about the cost. This is reasonablealthough there are options for making it more affordable, weight loss surgery is often expensive.
The investment in improving your life is usually well worth the cost. Many patients even end up saving money in the long run because of reduced medical costs after significant weight loss. Heres some information about the cost of weight loss surgery to help you make an informed choice.
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Breakdown Of The Cost Of Gastric Sleeve With Dr Borland
The cost for gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Borland is $11,300. This is less than the national average of $16,800 its also less than the $15,400 average in Louisiana. The price includes a number of services:
- Initial office visit fee of $200
- Surgeons fee of $4,500
- Assistant surgeons fee of $1,000
- Anesthesia fee of $600
- New Iberia Surgery Center fee of $5,000
There are some things the price does not cover, including:
- The hotel stay for 2-3 days during recovery
- Travel to and from New Iberia, Louisiana
- Pre-op testing, if required
We are able to offer affordable pricing for the gastric sleeve because we treat it as an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to avoid expensive hospital bills. Youll need to pay for your stay in a nearby hotel for a couple days during the recovery period, but this cost is significantly less than staying in a hospital.
Medicaid Weight Loss Surgery
Medicaid typically covers weight loss surgery and related procedures. However, in addition to the three main precertification rules, you must factor in a fourth consideration is the recommended method experimental.
Given the complex criteria, the patients ability to gather the appropriate documentation determines how long Medicaid takes to approve the weight loss surgery. It could take weeks, months, or years depending on how well you and your doctor present the case.
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How Much Is Gastric Sleeve In Louisiana
Dr. Thomas Borlands gastric sleeve surgery costs $11,300, which is a reasonable price. This is less than the national average of $16,800 and less than the average of $15,400 in Louisiana, both of which are below the national average. There are a variety of financing solutions available to assist you in paying for bariatric surgery.
Does Medicaid Pay For Gastric Sleeve In Louisiana
Bariatric Surgery is a type of surgery that helps people lose weight. Louisiana Only until a complete and prolonged program of diet and exercise, with or without the use of pharmaceutical treatments, has proven to be ineffective over time will Medicaid fund bariatric or weight reduction surgery as an option.
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Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
Over the years and for various reasons, some patients may experience weight regain following their initial weight loss procedure. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are experts at Revisional Weight Loss Surgery which can be performed laparoscopically or endoscopically. If you have experienced inadequate weight loss, insufficient resolution of comorbidities or medical complications due to weight loss surgery you may be a candidate for either minimally invasive or incisionless revisional surgery.
Does Medicaid Cover Bariatric Surgery
In several cases, weight loss surgeries become essential for individuals. Dealing with obesity is not easy. Moreover, there can be cases when it gets out of control. For the general well-being of an individual, surgery is the only solution. For attaining a healthy lifestyle and weight, bariatric surgery might be the sole answer. Yet, these surgeries might cost slightly higher than youd think. Depending on the location, type of surgery, and the patient, the cost for bariatric surgery can range between $15,000 to $30,000.
In most cases, Medicaid covers weight loss surgery. In this case, the patient must fulfill the basic criteria for coverage. The same may vary between states and needs to be verified before proceeding. Bariatric surgeries are not extensively mentioned in guidelines for Medicaid coverage but handled differently for different cases. You need to work with your physician to discuss the process of approval for Medicaid coverage.
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Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You
Knowing your weight loss surgery options is important. There is not a single solution, but rather a combination of methods to treat obesity. These tools are part of a comprehensive approach to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, while improving your health. The right combination of tools and lifestyle changes are essential to a successful obesity treatment plan.
Bariatric surgical procedures cause weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, causing malabsorption of nutrients, or by a combination of both gastric restriction and malabsorption. The most common bariatric surgery procedures are gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Each surgery has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Medicaid Coverage In Louisiana For Gastric Sleeve
Members Who Like This Post
Does anyone have an updated list of surgeons who accept Medicaid for gastric sleeve in Louisiana. I have been getting a lot of rejection.
Hello Alayna,
I am so sorry, I can’t tell you how many calls I get a day from your state with people in tears. There “was” only one surgeon that was taking state medicaid we were aware of, Dr. Dominguez. As of the 1st of May, they no longer take Medicaid.
Dr. Johnny Perez was taking some medicaid patients for WLS, but his primary surgery was not weight loss. Due to the huge volume of WLS patients that came to him after Dr. Dominguez, he is no longer taking new WLS patients. Cheryl in the office said they are trying to get another surgeon in the office and for potential new patients to call in 3 months. Here is a link to his site.
We wish you luck and let us know if we can do anything else to help.
Regards,
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Do I Qualify For Weight Loss Surgery
It takes a lot of courage to pursue weight loss surgery. We will make every effort to make sure it is the best option for you. There are a number of criteria for weight loss surgery we consider in order to ensure a safe and medically appropriate procedure. Some of these bariatric surgery requirements include information about your overall health as well as your insurance coverage and mindset.
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Surgical Weight Loss Designed For Results
We offer preoperative education as well as post-operative support for patients looking for healthier options. Not only will we guide you through the steps necessary to have bariatric surgery, but we also provide the necessary tools that are fundamental to your post-operative success for many years to come after your surgery. Nutrition, exercise, behavior modification counseling and support groups, are among the resources offered to ensure your success after surgery.
Our goal is to offer a personalized program that will help you lose weight and succeed in reaching your goals. There are many different types of weight loss surgeries, and Ochsner Lafayette General has the most comprehensive choices on the market.
As The Leading And Most Trusted Weight Loss/general Surgeon On The Gulf Coast We Are Here For You With The Covid
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“One of the best doctors I have ever known. Amazing man who truly cares for his patients.”
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Verified Patient Vitals
Dr. Donald Balder is a surgeon with over 20 years of professional experience. He founded the Mississippi Institute of Weight Loss Surgery in September 2016, with two locations in Mississippi and another location in Louisiana: Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Slidell.
After completing his undergrad at the University of Illinois, Dr. Balder continued his studies there, earning his medical degree before completing his surgery residency at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He holds board certification in general surgery and has state licensure in Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
During his time in the Carolinas, Dr. Balder became a weight loss pioneer, establishing several minimally invasive surgery and weight loss programs at McLeod Regional Medical Center and the Carolinas Hospital System from 1997 to 2004. He performed the first laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure in South Carolina, as well as the first series of incision-less weight loss surgeries, and the first single incision laparoscopic surgery.
Dr. Balder has amassed numerous accolades during his career, including designation as an American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons Center of Excellence Surgeon by the Surgical Review Corporation, and several Center of Distinction Awards from Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care, and Aetna.
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How Much Is Gastric Sleeve In Mexico
When compared to other nations, such as the United States, the cost of sleeve surgery in Mexico is the most cheap option available. When it comes to sleeve surgery in the United States, the average patient reports paying up to $20,000 USD, but in Tijuana, Mexico, the average patient reports spending between $3,995 and $7,000 USD for the full high-quality weight reduction treatment
Weight Loss Surgery At Umc For Medicaid Patients
Recently, doctors at University Medical Center have been telling potential patients about a new weight loss program.
So many people are interested in this new opportunity, that Wednesday’s class filled up instantly, but the new clinic will have future classes that you can go to.
For years, Weight Loss Wednesday has highlighted the many success stories with bariatric surgery. Studies show surgery to make the stomach smaller, and alter hunger hormones, is more effective for long-term weight loss and health than diet and exercise alone.
However, for people in Louisiana who could not afford the more than $20,000 price tag, or whose private insurance would not pay, this often life-saving procedure was off limits. Now, for the first time, it’s available for people with Medicaid.
“I really believe we’re going to change the health care landscape in Louisiana by offering this service to this patient population,” said Dr. Christopher DuCoin, Director of Bariatric Surgery at UMC and Chief of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Tulane.
Already more than 600 people are waiting for the doors of the new clinic and operating room to open.
“It’s amazing. There’s literally nothing that weight loss surgery doesn’t help,” Dr. DuCoin added.
And lives are saved, as people live longer and better.
The program at UMC can also advocate for people who have private insurance, that won’t pay for the surgery.
Free Seminar Dates through the end of 2018 are below:
Wednesday, June 13 @ 5:30-6:30
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Which Weight Loss Procedures Does Medicaid Cover
In most cases, Medicaid covers Lap-Band Surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and gastric bypass. These are not only readily covered by Medicaid, but also among the most common surgeries recommended. In certain situations, these are accepted as medically vital to the life and wellbeing of the patient.
Gastric bypass reduces the stomach size and bypasses a part of the intestine. Hence, you eat less and the food is also sent straight to the lower part of your intestine. Due to this bypass, absorption of nutrients and calories is reduced. Hence, it reduces food intake and additionally helps result in weight loss. In Lap-Band surgery, the top part of the stomach is covered with silicone bands with balloons. This reduces the space for holding food. Also, the entry to the stomach becomes smaller. The procedure is less invasive compared to others and is done laparoscopically. Additionally, it is preferable as it is easy to reverse and the band can be adjusted. Finally, in gastric sleeve surgery, a sleeve-shaped, smaller stomach is created. As the food does not have much space to sit, it is readily passed to the intestines. Hence, it too reduces intake of food and calorie absorption.
