New Program Fee

I just want to inform anyone who is about to have Lap Band surgery that please beware of your surgeons office charging you a program fee. I was contacted today by my surgeons office and was told that when i arrive for my appointment I am to pay a one time fee of 300.00 which is a program fee. When i asked about when this program fee started i was told that I just started this week. I also asked what did this 300.00 cover and was told that mostly all of the paper work that they need to obtain after approval. It also covered refferals for the nutritionalist and other things.

I truly feel that i have been very unfairly treated and that i should not be required to pay this fee becasue i was already in the program before they started the fee. Just wanted to give a heads up to please be ware of hidden fees to be paid at time of service.

That doesn't seem right if you were already in the process with them. My doctor didn't charge anything like that. I would think they're already being paid enough to do all of that as part of their other fees. Is it too late for you to find another doctor?

I really don't know if i can or not but if i have to that will be no problem. i also found out that they are trying to become a center of excellence. And since my hubby is going to have the surgery around the same time this would mean it would cost me 600.00.

Your fee isn't nearly as much as I had to pay - but mine includes fills & office visits for 5 yrs.

You have to understand it's his way of re-couping some of his cost. If your doc office is like mine they did all the paper work - set up all my pre op appointments - provided nutritionist - pre food - the works - and insurance doesn't pay very much - they bill the insurance $200 and insurance only pays them $75 - that $75 covers the doc time his nurses salaries - his cost of doing busines etc that's not much $$$ now a day.

I will tell you that $300 is worth it to get your band

But I am sorry they didn't inform you sooner..

There are some ethical red flags here...you were already in the program and now they are charging you a $300 fee that they "just started this week"? You entered their program on a specific date under the terms at that time, they cannot come back later and charge you another fee that was not disclosed at the time of admission to the program. I would talk with the office manager and put your grievance in writing and if they are a preferred provider with your insurance then also contact your insurance and file a complaint as well for the charge. Let the office know that you will be contacting the State Insurance Commission as well as the State Medical Licensing to report it.

I had to pay a program fee (which I don't have a big problem with, for the reasons IndioGirl explained above), but this was clearly explained at the time I scheduled my first appointment.

If this appointment that you're going to is your FIRST appointment, then they really aren't out of line to expect payment, they've told you about it before you started the program. However, if you've already been seen and started your pre-op stuff, then that's a whole nother can of worms and it seems very inappropriate to me.

Maybe it depends on whether you go to a weight loss clinic that only does weight loss surgery, or to a regular doctor or surgeon for whom weight loss surgery is just one part of their practice. In my case I went to a weight loss surgery center (Northwest Weight Loss Surgery) that has 3 doctors and all they do is lap bands. Most of their staff has the band too -- the nutritionist I meet with is banded, even the psychiatrist I met with was banded, and surgery is performed in the same building as their offices. So, setting up the pre-op appointments is just part of what they do for every patient every day, and they have it down to a science, so that is included in your "one price".

On the other hand if it's a doctor's office where setting up all the pre-op stuff for weight loss patients is more than what they usually have to do for their other patients, I guess I could understand a fee for it, but it's not right to spring it on you when you've already started the process.

$300.00 is not bad because I had to pay $700.00 for my program fee & nutrition fees on top of a $250.00 consultation fee because my insurance company does not cover consultations and evaluations fees. I have paid a total of $950.00 plus a $40.00 specialist fee each time I see the dr. My dr. office gave me the option of breaking the payments up, but all the fees had to be paid before my surgery date.

I had to pay a $500 fee which covers some exercise program (which I will not use), the nutritionist for 3 visits, the support groups and the pyschological eval...maybe more appts with her, I do not remember. I would think if it was initiated mid process, you should be grandfathered in and not have to pay....

I have to pay $750 program fee.. but at least it's through the hospital. They tell me it will cover 1 month vitamins, lifetime access to a patient portal, patient manual, exercise specialist, monthly support group meetings and a variety of pre and post op services (not sure what the latter is for yet). I think it's a little expensive, but a price I'm willing to pay since I chose them and knew this up front. I also have to pay for my psych eval which is an additional $220. Not sure what the nutritionist is going to charge.

Good luck and I feel you should be grandfathered in as well.

I see your in Murfreesboro, I'm in Clarksville and I am having my surgery done at Gateway Hospital and they do not charge this fee. If you don't mind traveling, maybe you could have it done here, which is about 2 hrs away. :)

I can understand too about the program fee, the original Dr. I was referred to had a $700 program fee that included some things that my insurance covers anyways and theres no way I can afford that much money..The new Dr. I switched to has a $300 program fee but it covers things like meeting with a personal trainer to do a fitness evaluation, and a fitness plan, a binder with almost all of the information you could possibly need about the program and the surgery and what to expect, as well as unlimited meetings with the dietician/nutritionist..Its still hard for me to come up with that amount of money it buts more do able than $700.

Zeama, When is your surgery and who are you seeing?
I have my appointment with Steely on Friday July 11th!

Thanks for all your replys and the problem has been solved!
I called this morning and they waviered the fee for those of us that were already in the program and the new ones calling about the seminar are now being told about the fee. See great things happen for those who believe!!!

Yay! I'm very happy for you.