"Update 10/12/03: I fired Surgical Weight Loss Associates due to their office staff. My interaction with Dr. Scott Steinberg was very nice and informative, but his office staff lost paperwork, didn't file the paperwork, lied about filing the paperwork, didn't respond to phone calls from me OR Inamed, and finally, with my first appeal, sent a totally inappropriate letter that didn't list the reasons for my need for surgery other than listing my BMI and co-morbidities. Enough!rnrnI am now with Emory Bariatrics, and Dr. Khaitan. I've been to the seminar, and will be meeting with her for the consultation this week. Will let you know...rnrnUpdate 12/02/04: I fired Emory Bariatrics. After BCBS denied the first application, Emory refused to help me file an appeal, and BCBS does not accept appeals from the patient, only the surgeon's office. After a month of fighting with them, I gave up and went with the Obesity Treatment Center in Albany, Georgia. Drs. Bagnato and Burnette do ONLY lap-band surgery. Currently waiting on 1st appeal decision, however, I'm changing insurance to Definity Health as of 1/1/05, so will be starting over AGAIN!!! OY!!!rn"
