Getting Started with Bariatric Surgery
To be considered for bariatric surgery at UW Health, you must go through a thorough screening and evaluation process. This helps to ensure that this is the best decision for you and your health.
Our Program Pathway: What You Need to Do
- The first step is to schedule your attendance at the Bariatric Surgery Program Educational Seminar. This free informational seminar is mandatory for anyone considering bariatric surgery at UW Health.
- Provide us a letter of support from your primary care physician endorsing you as a candidate for bariatric surgery and outlining the health problems to be addressed with surgery.
- Provide us with your complete weight loss history.
Our Program Pathway: What We Do
- We will submit a letter of medical necessity to insurance with the correct benefits contact information upon receipt of current insurance information and completed health questionnaire.
- Upon confirmation of covered benefits, we will schedule an appointment for testing and evaluation with our program's health psychologist.
- After your psychological evaluation, our team meets to discuss. Additional preparation and education is likely.
- Upon approval by our team and written prior authorization from your insurance provider, surgery will be scheduled at either UW Hospital and Clinics or Meriter Hospital.
- Pre-operative appointments at East Clinic include our nutrition class with a registered dietitian, work-up and education with the nurse practitioner, consult with one of our surgeons, additional education through our Learning Center, and blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray. Some people may require stress test and/or sleep study prior to scheduling surgery. This process may take about three months and in some instances six to 12 months.
- All follow-up care and appointments are at the East Clinic.
Insurance
Insurance coverage of some or all of the costs associated with bariatric surgery depends on your carrier. Prior authorization from your insurance provider is necessary to initiate pre-op screening and assessment. Self-pay packages are available for the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure.