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The idea of gastric bypass surgery can be very exciting, but gaining insurance approval for the surgery means being able to prove having had six months of medical nutrition therapy. In October 2006, the Maryland state law mandated that everyone submitting for possible insurance approval must be able to document six individual monthly notes from a physician or registered dietitian that such therapy took place.
Some insurance companies — it is up to the specific employer plan —
will also accept Weight Watchers documentation. Each insurance carrier has different
requirements in terms of the amount of time allowable (usually between 2 to
5 years) between when a patient last had medical nutrition therapy prior to
approval for gastric bypass surgery. You should contact your benefits manager
to obtain a hard copy of the specific details of your insurance policy.
The Center for Weight Management and Wellness provides complimentary six months
of nutrition care for our patients. Patients require one visit a month consecutively.
We do this because most of our patients have been pursuing weight loss for many
years yet will not have the documentation necessary for insurance approval.
Nutrition sessions are part of a patient’s regular Center appointments.
Appointments are available mornings and evenings in Millersville MD and our
downtown Baltimore office.
Millersville, MD: Mondays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., one Friday
a month 9 a.m - 4.pm.
Downtown, Baltimore: Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Baltimore Washington Medical Center: one evening group session
a month
Our medical nutrition therapy focuses on preparation for the many habit changes needed for a successful gastric bypass lifestyle. Sessions topics may include how to achieve weight loss in order to be safe for surgery as well as extensive information about gastric bypass lifestyle, including diet adjustments after surgery, low- sugar shopping, and use of supplements for addressing protein and vitamin deficiencies, shopping for safe food and drinks, and accurate label reading. Patients whose surgeons are not part of our Center can -- for a fee -- have medical nutrition therapy consults with Mary Beth Sodus RD/LD.
It is important to note that while medically supervised diets can be any type of diet that a patient has undertaken with a physician or dietitian, the insurance companies do look for specific details in terms of how the diet is documented. Whether your diet takes place at our Center or elsewhere, each individual monthly note must contain the following seven items:
For more information on the University of Maryland Weight Management Program call 410-328-8940