Getting Started

Getting Started



Screening Process

To be considered for surgery you must go through a screening process. This thorough process was designed by a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals to ensure that bariatric surgery is the best solution for your health.

The program progression follows these steps:

Step 1:

  • Call (860) 347-9167 to register to attend a free information session.
  • The information sessions are held once a month, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut.
  • Dr. Aranow, the director of the Center for Bariatric Surgery will explain everything you need to know to help you decide if the surgery is right for you. He will also be available to answer your questions.
  • You are encouraged to bring someone with you – family member or close friend – so you will have someone to discuss everything with afterward.
  • Information packages, along with health questionnaires, are available at the session to take home with you.

Step 2

  • If you are still interested in moving forward, you will need to complete the health questionnaire found within the information package and then call (860) 347-9167 to schedule your first appointment.
  • For your first appointment, you will meet with Dr, Aranow for about half an hour. During this meeting, he will look over your completed questionnaire, and ask you many follow-up questions to your answers. This is done to initially determine if you are a good candidate for bariatric surgery.

Please note: this questionnaire is lengthy and asks for many details about your health. If it is not complete when you are scheduled to meet with the doctor, your appointment will be cancelled, and you will have to reschedule.

Step 3

  • Dr. Aranow will hand you a checklist and explain it to you. It contains all the things that you need to do in order to be eligible for bariatric surgery.
  • Everyone must meet with the Center’s dietician and psychologist.
  • Depending on your health, some of the items on the checklist may also include: a cardiology stress test, laboratory tests, participation in a sleep study, etc.
  • Dr. Aranow will keep in touch with your primary care doctor starting at this point, and keep him/her informed throughout the process.

Step 4

  • Once everything on your checklist has been completed, we will submit the information to your insurance for approval of the surgery.

Step 5

  • You will then need to attend three support group meetings and a pre-operation education session.
  • In the support groups, you will meet people who have already had the surgery as well as others who, like yourself, are about to undergo the surgery. This is a great opportunity to hear first-hand about all aspects of the surgery, what to expect, how you’ll feel and more!
  • The pre-operation education session will focus specifically on what you can expect in the Hospital, immediately before and after the surgery, and during your hospitalization. This class is run by nurses who are experienced in caring for bariatric surgery patients.

Insurance

Finding out whether or not surgery will be covered is critical before formal enrollment into the program. The following are general guidelines.

Medicare

Medicare currently covers all of our obesity operations if medically necessary, and only in bariatric programs officially designated as a Center of Excellence. The Middlesex Hospital Center for Bariatric Surgery is an official Center for Excellence. Medicare, however, does not give prior approval for surgery, so a denial is still possible before and after surgery.

Private Insurance

Insurance coverage for weight-loss surgery varies depending on the individual patient’s insurance plan. Gastric Bypass and Lap Band surgery is a covered benefit by many insurance companies, depending upon the type of policy you have and its terms. Insurance policies vary even though they may have been issued by the same insurance company.

Patients are advised to review their individual insurance policies to understand what insurance benefits are covered. Financial counseling and pre-authorization from insurance companies needs to be secured before surgery can be performed.

Self-Pay (no insurance coverage)

Some patients may choose to pay for the surgery on a self-pay basis. These arrangements can be made by speaking directly with the surgeon’s administrative assistants. There are three fees to consider, the physicians, your hospital stay, and for the anesthesia.

Insurance Denials

If you receive a denial of insurance coverage by your insurance company, you should not consider this to be a “definite no.” In many cases, providing additional detailed information, in the form of an appeal letter, will result in a denial being overturned. If your insurance carrier remains unreasonable, you may want to consider writing your legislator or seeking legal assistance. Insurance companies will often relent as they try to avoid confrontation. Legal assistance can be obtained through a local attorney, via www.obesitylaw.com.

Psychological Evaluation

The psychological evaluation is a key component to the health assessment. You will meet with our licensed psychologist who works exclusively with patients considering weight loss surgery. The goal of this meeting is for our psychologist to evaluate and identify any potential issues that could hinder a successful outcome. This information can also assist the medical team to further prepare you for your lifestyle change.

Nutrition Evaluation

Each patient must also meet with a registered dietitian who specializes in the nutrition management of bariatric patients. The dietitian will review laboratory results that relate to your nutritional well-being and discuss what changes you will have to make following your surgery. He/ she will also make suggestions for preoperative weight loss.

Weekly Preoperative Informational Sessions:

On a weekly basis we will invite some of our post-op patients to share their experiences as well as allow time for questions and answers. These sessions are hoted by our dietician, psychologist, and nursing staff. These meetings are open to all without reservation. The first Monday of each month is organized as an educational session hosted by our dietician and psychologist.

Date: Every Monday (except 3rd monday of each month).

Time: 6:30-7:30

Location: North One Meeting Room, Middlesex Hospital


New Patient Information Sessions

This meeting will provide you with reliable information on weight loss surgery. We invite you to bring your friends and family. We strongly suggest that you attend one of these free sessions prior to your first appointment with the medical director and nurse. We do request that you call ahead for reservations since seating is limited.

The session includes a comprehensive presentation on the Lap Band and RNY Gastric Bypass procedures by Jonathan Aranow, MD, the director of the Center for Bariatric Surgery. Attendence at this meeting is a requirement prior to obtaining an individual consultaion with Dr. Aranow.

Date: Monthly, Call for reservation (860) 347-9167

Time: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: North One Meeting Room, Middlesex Hospital