This work was supported by the Bernard G. Sarnat Endowment for Craniofacial Biology (JCL) and the Jean Perkins Foundation (JCL). Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) is a group of facial procedures that alter the face to create more classically feminine characteristics, such as a higher brow, a more refined feminine nose, and less pronounced Adams apple. Facial Feminization | Dr. Patel Chicago | MTF Facial Plastic Surgery You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Search by U.S. State, Procedure and Insurance Search by Country and Procedure Browse the Global Surgeon Maps. Ultimately, you will need to contact your health insurance company or patient advocate for more specific information regarding costs. Medi-Cal, the California state equivalent of Medicaid, authorizes all gender-affirming surgeries including FFS and Medicare does not require prior authorization. Padula WV, Heru S, Campbell JD. However, we are not responsible for any insurance documentation, reimbursement, denials, or appeals. 7. The Ins & Outs of Traveling Abroad for FFS Surgery Care Credit approval amounts can vary from person to person. Demographic, clinical, and administrative data were retrospectively collected (UCLA IRB #19-001482). Some error has occurred while processing your request. Facial Feminization Surgery provides dramatic changes to the male face which helps facilitate Male to Female (MTF) Transgender patients to fully live in the female role and be perceived as a woman with confidence. For people without local connections, the facebook group, " FFS Facial Feminization Surgery / Transgender TG TS " and the FFS Forums on susans.org are good places to seek community support as well. Wolters Kluwer Health In the rare instance that FFS Surgery is included in your health insurance policy, services may be incomplete or function only on a reimbursement basis. 8. We are looking forward to meeting you in person, hearing your aspirations, and tailoring a Surgical plan especially for you. All rights reserved. For example, some may be reluctant to perform an osteotomy of the anterior table of the frontal bone for setback in an outpatient surgery center and, thus, default to a less aggressive method of frontal bone recontouring, which may be an undercorrection for certain patients. William Hoffman, MD and Jason Pomerantz, MD from the UCSF Division of Plastic Surgery, and Drs. Everyone who is able to fight through it cracks the door open a little wider for the next person. 2018; 80:198204. Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) Miami, FL - Dr. Salgado Based in Washington, D.C., Dr. Ramineni performs upwards of 600 surgeries a year and has a specialization in Gender Affirmation Surgery. It involves plastic surgery techniques in which the jaw, chin, cheeks, forehead, nose, and areas surrounding the eyes, ears or lips are changed to create a more feminine appearance. Canner JK, Harfouch O, Kodadek LM, et al. Despite these reports, coverage continues to be variable from state to state, physician to physician, as well as depending on anatomical region. Facial Feminization Surgery under Insurance: The University - LWW These issues will remedy themselves as you heal, but will often require several weeks to completely resolve. Because Medicare patients (n = 4) do not need prior authorization, they were excluded from the time and cost analysis of the insurance appeal process for Group A. This procedure can alter both soft tissues as well as the facial bone to achieve more feminine-looking facial features. 2. 2018 Physician Compensation Report. 2). Requiring letters from therapists and physicians appeals to some hospitals, surgeons, and care providers, who may look at this system as legally defensible if necessary. Insurance Coverage for FFS Surgery abroad Medical inequality for trans people means that access to quality trans healthcare is absent or limited in many regions. Dr. Harris is a highly skilled, board-certified Surgeon in the Dallas area who has been developing an international reputation for transgender surgery. Facial Feminization in Korea - Everything You Need to Know! Facial Feminization Surgery NYC | Board Certified Plastic Surgeon School-Based Dental Sealants; Licensed Rhode Island Dentists. Among the various gender-affirming procedures, facial feminization surgery (FFS) is arguably the most commonly denied surgery, as insurance companies often deem the involved procedures as cosmetic and not medically necessary. I tell everyone to plan for an initial denial- even if FGCS is covered in your plan clearly, its likely that portions of the procedure will be denied as cosmetic. Although your FFS may not be covered by your insurance company its definitely worth doing the research. 1. The cheapest caesarean section is 48,000 baht (year 2020) including sterilization 53,000 baht. It's hard for any person to find their voice to self-advocate when such deeply personal needs are up for debate and judgement as "cosmetic" among random insurance company reviewers. Referral letters and supporting documentation should be sent to: UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program 1725 Montgomery St. Suite 250 San Francisco, CA 94111 Phone: 415-885-7770 Fax: 415-353-3399 transcare@ucsf.edu 1. In addition to legislative changes, the rationale for increasing coverage may be related to calculations on the cost-effectiveness of coverage. In contrast to Group A, patients who required significant efforts in the form of multi-level appeals, peer-to-peer reviews, and IMRs were designated Groups B and C, depending on ultimate approval versus denial as the outcomes, respectively. Costs of health care administration in the United States and Canada. Facial Feminization Surgery - Need FFS? Find the Best FFS Surgeons Facial Feminization Miami | The Maercks Institute These are usually self-insured employer plans which are administered by well-known insurers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, and Tufts Health Plan. One potential consideration for reducing time and costs is to centralize administrative staff for gender health insurance authorizations. Plastic surgeons at Michigan Medicine are proud to provide Facial Feminization Surgery. Dr. Mangubat specializes in Top Surgery, Breast Augmentation and Body Sculpting, Gender Confirming Facial Surgery and Hair Grafting. I am working from the perspective that you are unable to pay in full and be reimbursed. The format for an appeals process and regulations/law/policy to cite within it vary widely depending on the mix of state and local regulations that apply to your specific plan. They submit their own information, information about the procedure being performed, and information about you. Look here for licensed dentists practicing in the state. Specific surgical procedures were requested based on patient desires and clinical assessment, with the goal of completing FFS in a one-stage surgery. 11. For example, there are now many hospitals across the . Health Insurance Utilizing coverage under a health insurance plan is often the most affordable way to pay for FFS. According to the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery,. I could go on about this, but I hate to further the expectation that you must be very mentally ill in order for the "extreme" treatment of FGCS to be warranted. The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago personalizes each and every treatment we perform by completing a full facial evaluation and discussing all possible options with you. Generally, one provider should have a doctoral level degree (PhD, DSW, Psychiatrist MD) and the other can have a masters level degree (MSW, MHC, etc.) In contrast, FFS under insurance coverage allows for inpatient care, which may be important, particularly to surgeon decision-making as well as patients who may have other medical conditions, pain control issues, or those who travel from long distances. Arch Intern Med. She believes in a shared vision and works closely with her patients to deliver the best quality care that is in line with their needs. Price on request Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) View details & Read reviews CALL NOW. Patients seeking services from our practice arepersonally and fully responsible for paymentof all fees and costs related to your FFS surgery and medical care. The administrator hourly compensation set at our institution was used for the cost analysis. Ainsworth TA, Spiegel JH. 10. Insurance For Facial Feminization Surgery | Allure Esthetic Read more about our Clinics Finance and Insurance Policy here. FFS is ideal for trans women and non-transgender women who want a more feminine facial appearance. Jess Ting - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Mount Sinai Health System You should be able to have easy access to this document through your insurance provider. Beginning in June 2021, Dr. Esmonde will serve as a full-time Associate Surgeon with The Meltzer Clinic offering the full spectrum of gender-affirming procedures. In total, the time and cost estimate of the insurance appeal process was 10.8 1.0 hours and $855.00 91.53 per patient, respectively. Facial Feminization Surgery (FSS) Houston and The Woodlands A number of patients had multiple consultations, some consulted legal assistance, and, particularly patients in Groups B and C, some experienced significant distress over the repetitive denials and lack of clarity in the end result of the process. generic exclusions referenced under "general surgery guidelines" and "cosmetic procedures." South Dakota (0) State Medicaid has no . San Francisco, CA 94108. The total costs of your Facial Feminization Surgery will be determined by the staff of the University of Miami. Does Medicare cover gender reassignment surgery? - Medical News Today This study highlighted the successes and burdens associated with obtaining insurance authorization for FFS. If not, remember youre never alone and there are a range of transgender support agencies that you can tap into. Every insurance company is "difficult" to work with. Upon denial, an IMR is requested directly from the insurance plan. Read more. Facial feminization surgery encompasses a broad range of procedures to change the shape of the face to look feminine. Post Surgery Recovery. Privacy Policy (Updated December 15, 2022). J Gen Intern Med. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with FFS. Thus, specifying any one procedure as medically necessary while excluding other facial procedures reflects a lack of understanding of the nature of the diagnosis. Similarly, while Medicare does not require an authorization process to move forward with surgery, we have experienced significant billing challenges postsurgery. Please read a few important elements consider when booking. This guide is 201 level, geared towards those who find themselves covered with an ACA exchange plan or private insurance, as Medicaid processes are much more state specific. 2020; 8:e2618. Each patient is different and your expectations and desired results will be discussed fully in your consultation. Mallory C, Tentindo W. Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care. 2003; 349:768775. FFS may include a brow lift, cheek augmentation, rhinoplasty, and lip augmentation. Based on my conversations with friends who are very satisfied with their FGCS, I assure you that no surgery can completely resolve that anxiety. Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. https://links.lww.com/PRSGO/B648.) Braun TL, Braun JL, Hernandez C, et al. Integral to this whole process is the FGCS surgeon. They will need letters of support from you for the preauthorization, following WPATHs Standards Of Care. Values: "At Kamol Hospital we provide a complete spectrum of fine cosmetic surgical procedures, performed by elite plastic surgeons setting new technological achievements. She has the skill and artistry to help produce the aesthetic goals that transgender and non-binary patients seek with Top Surgery, Breast Augmentation and Facial Gender Confirmation Surgery. FHS/FFS (Facial Harmonization Surgery / Facial Feminization Surgery) Metoidioplasty/Phalloplasty Vaginoplasty/Vulvoplasty Classes cover the following material: Surgical options and techniques Surgery planning and pathway at Kaiser Post-operative care and recovery Most sessions also include a patient panel (See table 2, Supplemental Digital Content 2, which displays the total time and cost of the insurance approval process per group. Facial feminization surgery: the forehead. Average months spent from initial facial feminization consultation to final insurance authorization decision. Days, whose birth name was Douglas, came out as transgender in January, 2015. Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) | University of Miami Health System $8995. The FFS Surgeons listed below are highly qualified plastic, cosmetic and maxillofacial Surgeons who regularly perform FFS. surgical techniques and analysis of results. Schedule surgery 2016. Male-to-Female Surgery in Texas - Dr. Dulin - MTFsurgery.net Our current work highlights the high likelihood of success in FFS coverage under insurance in California, but also details the challenges that plastic surgeons and plastic surgery practices incur for coverage to occur. Conveniently Located to Serve Chicago and Illinois. Gender-Affirming Surgery: Original Article. Yet, a number of studies have demonstrated that FFS is not only associated with improvement in quality of life for transfeminine patients, but also, for some patients, the most important aspect of transition.47 Although significant barriers exist, an improvement in insurance coverage for FFS has occurred over time, albeit navigation of the process is both laborious and confusing. JAMA. 2018; 153:609616. From an historical perspective, both private health insurance carriers and government insurance have declined claims for FFS. For self-pay patients, cost will frequently dictate the operative and postoperative setting such that patients may be preferentially or solely performed in an outpatient setting.