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News
New Jacksonville, Florida Support Group Forming!
There is a new Surgical Weight Control Specialists Support Group forming in Jacksonville. This group will be run by our patients, Pamela Helquist and Felicia Fort. The group is open to anyone who has been through surgical weight loss or who is contemplating surgical weight loss. Please contact them if you are interested in attending. Details as to the time and place of meeting will be posted here as it becomes available!
Pam Helquist - 904-448-0789 - helqupj@shands.ufl.edu
Felicia Fort -- Felicia211@aol.com
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MTV Chooses Surgical Weight Control Specialists for upcoming Documentary
August 9th, 2001
I am very proud and happy to report that MTV, Music Television, chose Surgical Weight Control Specialists here in Jupiter, Florida as the program to use to produce a documentary as part of their series TRUE LIFE: I Want Weight Loss Surgery. True Life features documentary style reports on the lives and concerns of young adults. The series covers a diverse mix of stories relevant to young people, ranging from pop culture trends and breaking news to topics relating to health, sex, drugs, money, and spirituality. "True Life" is a window into the real lives of MTV viewers, " said Dave Sirulnick, Executive Vice President, MTV News and Production. "The series covers the social issues, lifestyle trends and everything in between that affect young people's lives uniquely told from their point of view." MTV producers chose a young lady from Orlando, Florida as their subject and have been following her life, surgery, and recovery for the last few weeks. This young lady underwent Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass this past Monday. It was "interesting" to have to perform this surgery with the producer of the documentary filming the procedure from a variety of vantage points. The patient was discharge in very good condition on post operative day number two! My understanding is that they will be filming her periodically over the next 4 to 5 months and the show will be broadcast in late January! We will keep you informed as to the exact broadcast date and time.
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United HealthCare says "No Premium for Laparoscopic Surgery"
July 2, 2001
I spoke with a representative of United HealthCare of Florida, Inc. today. Unfortunately, UHC will NOT cover Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass because it is their corporate policy "not to pay a premium for laparoscopic surgery". Furthermore, they will not allow their clients (policy holders/premium payers) the right to pay a premium for laparoscopic surgery either. Unfortunately, Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass is too expensive and technically demanding to provide for the contracted rate for an "open" gastric bypass, currently approximately $1025.00.
We at Surgical Weight Control Specialists provide an intense level of quality, follow up and personal support that cannot be provided for $1000.00. We have tried , repeatedly, to negotiate a more appropriate reimbursement. When I informed their representative that I could only offer "open" gastric bypass to UHC beneficiaries, he suggested "or don't do them". Of course, United HealthCare of Florida, Inc, will put NOTHING in writing.....
As you might expect, we are seriously discussing terminating our contract with United Healthcare of Florida, Inc. If this occurs, we will gladly continue to see United HealthCare beneficiaries. Those with "out-of-network benefits" will still have the majority of the financial burden covered by their health insurance benefits. Our Insurance Analysts will assist you with details.
Please be assured that we at Surgical Weight Control Specialists are committed to providing long term weight control to those that suffer from Morbid Obesity in a safe, compassionate and high quality way that separates us from "assembly line surgery" Bariatric Surgery centers.
Please contact your Customer Service Representative for details. Ask if you will be able to pay the difference in order to have the Laparoscopic option?
Registered Corporate Officers are:
President
Blair R. Suellentrop
2160 Highland Ave
Birmingham,AL 35205
President
Fred C. Dunlap
800 N. Magnolia Ave, Suite 600
Orlando, FL zip not provided
Vice President
David P. Koppe
9900 Bren Road East, #300
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Vice President
Mayda C. Antun, M.D.
75 Valencia Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
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