Pathway To Surgery

STEP 1: SEMINAR SIGNUP AND INITIAL CONSULTATION

Seminar

The first part in the bariatric surgical process is to attend a free educational seminar. At this seminar, the doctors speak about the bariatric surgical procedures we offer along with the risks and benefits of each. This seminar will enlighten you on all of the updated statistics of bariatric surgery and help ease your mind of any questions or concerns. Other topics which will be discussed are the required evaluations and meetings in order to get to surgery, insurance requirements and self-pay options.

Consultation

Your consultation will consist of a meeting with either Dr. Sasse or Dr. Ayzengart to go over your health history to help guide you to the surgery of your choice with emphasis on achieving your health goals. At this time, you will also meet with one of our Bariatric Advocates to go over your estimated out-of-pocket expense. Our goal is for you to feel completely comfortable and to have no financial surprises.

Additional Information About Your Pathway to Surgery
Pre -Operative Surgical Requirements
Checking for Insurance Coverage

The following is a checklist you can use to ensure you have the information needed to obtain insurance approval.

Benefits: Check your benefits. Call the customer service number at your insurance company and ask for the benefits departments. Ask if you have benefits for bariatric surgery. This information can also be found written in your policy on the exclusions page. You may be asked for CPT Codes, which are:

Gastric Banding – 43770
Gastric Bypass – 43644
Sleeve Gastrectomy – 43775

Psychological Evaluation

A mental health evaluation is an essential part of preparing for weight loss surgery. The importance of obtaining a thorough psychological evaluation cannot be understated. Many insurance companies require an evaluation for benefits and our surgeon requires one for all patients. We have a Psychological Evaluator on staff for your convenience. If you prefer to have this scheduled with our office, please email info@sassesurgical.com. Our evaluator may or may not be contracted with your insurance. If not, you will be responsible for the self-pay cost. We will advise you of any out of pocket prior to this appointment.

If you would like to expedite this process, you may look at our list of mental health providers to make an appointment with a provider who has worked with our facility and is aware of the requirements. We have included providers from the outlying areas as well. If you are out of state and would like to have this done prior to your consultation you may. Please take the mental health outline prior to your visit. You may schedule this at any time.

You can also look at your own provider list from your insurance to find a contracted evaluator.

Nutrition Evaluation

A nutrition evaluation is also an essential part of preparing for weight loss surgery. The importance of obtaining a thorough assessment is important for your weight loss success. Many insurance companies require an evaluation for benefits and our surgeon requires one for all patients. We have a registered dietician on staff for your convenience. If you prefer to have this scheduled with our office, please email info@sassesurgical.com. Our evaluator may or may not be contracted with your insurance. If not, you will be responsible for the self-pay cost. We will advise you of any out-of-pocket prior to this appointment.

If you would like to expedite this process, you may look at our list of nutritional providers to make an appointment with a provider who has worked with our facility and is aware of the requirements. We have included providers from the outlying areas as well. If you are out of state and would like to have this done prior to your consultation you may. Please take the nutritional outline with you to your visit. You may schedule this at any time.

You can also look at your own provider list from your insurance to find a contracted evaluator.

Primary Care Physicians Role

Most likely your primary care physician (PCP) has referred you to our facility and encourages you to have bariatric surgery. It is suggested you have one visit with you PCP within six months of having weight loss surgery. Now is a great time to make an appointment if you do not have a recent visit on file. We prefer all PCPs to send in a Letter of Support/or copy of most current office notes along with one year of the medical records. Please take this Medical Records Release form to their office in order to have these records faxed or mailed to our office.

Support Group Attendance

We ask all of our patients to attend one support group meeting prior to surgery. This may be done with our facility or in your local area. This meeting is at no additional cost and may be done at anytime. Please take this Support Group Voucher to your meeting and have the leader fax this back to 877.701.6082.

We also feel that support can be found in many different ways. Dr. Kent Sasse has written many educational books and created audio tapes in order for you to have access to a reliable source.

Bariatric Nutrition Class

This is a class which you will attend in our office. It can be scheduled in conjunction with your consultation. This class goes over your pre-operative liquid diet, pre-operative weight loss requirement, and the dietary changes which will need to be implemented for the success of your bariatric surgery.

Diagnostic Testing

All of our bariatric patients will be required to have an Upper GI. This testing can be ordered once seen in the office. If your goal is to expedite this process, you may have your primary care physician order this testing and have the results sent to our office.

Possible Weight Loss Program

Your insurance may require a physician supervised weight loss program. This mandatory program can be anywhere between three to six months. If this is a prerequisite of your insurance carrier, Nevada Surgical requires this take place with our practice. Please note, you must have the total of required months consecutive, without significant gaps – meaning no more than one month missed. This must also be done within the most recent 24 months. Anything completed earlier than this will not be accepted by your insurance.

You may also complete your physician supervised weight loss program here in our office. Please contact our office at 775-829-7999 to go over the details.

Step 2: Tell Us About Yourself

Download the Intake form by clicking the icon:

Step 3: Pathway to Surgery Checklist

Please click below to download a PDF version of your Pathway to Surgery Checklist and information packet.

To begin your pathway to Surgery RIGHT NOW, contact Sasse Surgical Associates at
775.829.7999,
info@sassesurgical.com
or use our contact form in order to start the authorization process.

Download Checklist by clicking the icon: