For those that have successfully navigated Apple Health, could you provide some insite for a guide to getting things going?  I've been stuck working with people unfamiliar with how the GCS system works.  I'm new to Apple Health and have very little insite aswell.  I got my primary care to refer me for GCS, however, it's been a referral for a month with no action.  Any help would be appreciated.

If you have gotten a referral (the surgeon I am guessing ) you need to set up an appointment with Geoffrey Stiller (u can do it with dugi also but that waiting list is 2-3 years ) ... but it's sound like you do not even have your two letters from psyche ?!?!


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Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 28, 2018, 09:30:11 AM
For those that have successfully navigated Apple Health, could you provide some insite for a guide to getting things going?  I've been stuck working with people unfamiliar with how the GCS system works.  I'm new to Apple Health and have very little insite aswell.  I got my primary care to refer me for GCS, however, it's been a referral for a month with no action.  Any help would be appreciated.

Harley... Apple health is Washington Medicaid. Under Obama the services were covered but this is a new era. I do think that the Washington government has overridden the objections of other states. I found this online and it appears they do have a program. https://www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-cost-health-care/apple-health-medicaid-coverage/transgender-health-program#apple-health-transgender-health

Quote from: TinaVane on January 28, 2018, 01:56:02 PM
If you have gotten a referral (the surgeon I am guessing ) you need to set up an appointment with Geoffrey Stiller (u can do it with dugi also but that waiting list is 2-3 years ) ... but it's sound like you do not even have your two letters from psyche ?!?!


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I have 3 letters on standby through the Seattle VA.  I just don't have a name for them to write on it yet.  So that's easy.  I guess I can call and set up an appointment and get the info for the VA to send them their letters?  Or do the letters have to go through Apple Health to be forwarded to the surgeon?

Quote from: DawnOday on January 28, 2018, 02:03:39 PM
Harley... Apple health is Washington Medicaid. Under Obama the services were covered but this is a new era. I do think that the Washington government has overridden the objections of other states. I found this online and it appears they do have a program. https://www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-cost-health-care/apple-health-medicaid-coverage/transgender-health-program#apple-health-transgender-health

Yes we do have the program and it's covered.  However, navigating the program is the rub...  It's not common out here in No-man's Land WA

Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 28, 2018, 02:34:44 PM
I have 3 letters on standby through the VA.  I just don't have a name for them to write on it yet.  So that's easy.  I guess I can call and set up an appointment and get the info for the VA to send them their letters?  Or do the letters have to go through Apple Health to be forwarded to the surgeon?

Yea just have ur psych send fax to Stiller office. Have you ever tried to contact Stiller office ?


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Quote from: TinaVane on January 28, 2018, 02:38:09 PM
Yea just have ur psych send fax to Stiller office. Have you ever tried to contact Stiller office ?


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No I have not.  I was waiting to hear back about the referral approval from the insurance company.  Which I just found out had been sitting in the que for a month without my knowledge.  I'll contact the his office this week, and my physicians at the Seattle VA to have letters sent over to them. 

Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 28, 2018, 02:41:18 PM
No I have not.  I was waiting to hear back about the referral approval from the insurance company.  Which I just found out had been sitting in the que for a month without my knowledge.  I'll contact the his office this week, and my physicians at the Seattle VA to have letters sent over to them.

Hhhhhmmmmmm I don't think my girlfriend had to wait on insurance approval. But she is waiting on approval from Washington health to give her the green light after she had her consult.
But you are right bout the primary care doctors in Washington don't seem to know a thing bout grs/srs docs. Only one they know of is Bowers (who is no longer working with Apple ) and she been on the outs. We had to educate the doctors on who is now doing them for Apple


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Quote from: TinaVane on January 28, 2018, 02:51:20 PM
Hhhhhmmmmmm I don't think my girlfriend had to wait on insurance approval. But she is waiting on approval from Washington health to give her the green light after she had her consult.
But you are right bout the primary care doctors in Washington don't seem to know a thing bout grs/srs docs. Only one they know of is Bowers (who is no longer working with Apple ) and she been on the outs. We had to educate the doctors on who is now doing them for Apple


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My assigned primary care had never really met a Trans person.  As far as surgeons, I just know of Dugi and now Stiller working with Apple Health, and OHSU is slowly going away from doing anything with Apple Health.  A lot of their medical services now refuse Apple Health.

Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 28, 2018, 03:05:59 PM
My assigned primary care had never really met a Trans person.  As far as surgeons, I just know of Dugi and now Stiller working with Apple Health, and OHSU is slowly going away from doing anything with Apple Health.  A lot of their medical services now refuse Apple Health.

This woman suppose to be having surgery with Dugi (she resides in a moses lake,Wa on Thursday ...If you can handle the ramblings ...Apple health etc giving her the run around still tho . Here is her link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZfz3hvqbdgrAFAz6EoTA4Q
You should have your primary get you a referral for electrolysis so that Apple can pay for that (queen anne laser n electro if you reside in Seattle ) now tho

Quote from: TinaVane on January 28, 2018, 04:03:39 PM
This woman suppose to be having surgery with Dugi (she resides in a moses lake,Wa on Thursday ...If you can handle the ramblings ...Apple health etc giving her the run around still tho . Here is her link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZfz3hvqbdgrAFAz6EoTA4Q
You should have your primary get you a referral for electrolysis so that Apple can pay for that (queen anne laser n electro if you reside in Seattle ) now tho

I'll double check with Stiller's office on preferred hair removal, then call over to primary care to get the referral. I wasn't sure the process on that. If it was part of GRS, or needed the specialist to refer me to get primary care to type in the referral. I appreciate the link. Wow that gal can "Yammer on". 🙄

Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 28, 2018, 04:24:14 PM
I'll double check with Stiller's office on preferred hair removal, then call over to primary care to get the referral. I wasn't sure the process on that. If it was part of GRS, or needed the specialist to refer me to get primary care to type in the referral. I appreciate the link. Wow that gal can "Yammer on". [emoji849]

My girlfriend got the referral from her primary care doctor. When Stiller office call her she said she will schedule her surgery for September/ October to get enough electro sessions in. She will be doing electro weekly [emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]


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Quote from: TinaVane on January 28, 2018, 04:40:26 PM
My girlfriend got the referral from her primary care doctor. When Stiller office call her she said she will schedule her surgery for September/ October to get enough electro sessions in. She will be doing electro weekly [emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]


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Yikes...  that's a lot of electrolysis.  I'll get the call in to my primary care in the morning for electrolysis as part of Gender Reassignment.  You've helped so much.  I cannot thank you enough for the Apple Health insite.  They do love to claim ignornace and provide zero information on how to navigate their system.  Once this all gets figured out I think I need to post up a step by step guide to Apple Health.  Thank you again!

When I had GCS with Dr. Ley she mentioned that the Meltzer clinic would be taking Apple Care and would be doing Surgery in the Portland or Seattle Metro areas in late 2018 or 2019. They both are amazing!

Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 28, 2018, 04:57:20 PM
Yikes...  that's a lot of electrolysis.  I'll get the call in to my primary care in the morning for electrolysis as part of Gender Reassignment.  You've helped so much.  I cannot thank you enough for the Apple Health insite.  They do love to claim ignornace and provide zero information on how to navigate their system.  Once this all gets figured out I think I need to post up a step by step guide to Apple Health.  Thank you again!

I am sure she is doing it to be safe and scheduling the surgery out so far ahead since she want t make sur the hair is gone... But i hear also that it begins week by week , to every two weeks to monthly ...and plus dr stiller does scraping

Quote from: Margaret_B on January 28, 2018, 10:38:27 PM
When I had GCS with Dr. Ley she mentioned that the Meltzer clinic would be taking Apple Care and would be doing Surgery in the Portland or Seattle Metro areas in late 2018 or 2019. They both are amazing!

Meltzer does the two stage surgery ?!?! and has a long wait list (2-3 years) or so i heard

Got my first consultation with Dr. Stiller set up for March 26th. 

Quote from: Harley Quinn on January 31, 2018, 05:24:40 PM
Got my first consultation with Dr. Stiller set up for March 26th. 

Yyyyyaaaassssss congrats baby girl


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Quote from: TinaVane on February 01, 2018, 08:37:32 PM
Yyyyyaaaassssss congrats baby girl


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Thank you! I would have probably been put off for a while without your help. Super appreciated! 😁

Quote from: TinaVane on January 28, 2018, 11:33:13 PM
Meltzer does the two stage surgery ?!?! and has a long wait list (2-3 years) or so i heard

Correct two stage I waited 8 months from consult to gcs and will be back in late April for stage 2, super pleased with the results so far.