I was assigned to Suncoast Family Associates when I first enrolled in Medicare Humana Gold Plus Plan and there Dr. DiBetta was assigned as my PPO. Referrals are needed to specialists. The gynecologist that I had been going to for 10 years and whom I trusted and who knew my medical history had warned me that I problem I had in the past could become a malignancy if it recurred. For 8 weeks I called Suncoast Family Associates to obtain the referral but was being given the run around. At one point they referred me to a doctor I did not know but I insisting in seeing my usual gynecologist. Finally, they relented and I got the referral. It turned out I had endometrial cancer and had to undergo a hysterectomy. Because it was caught at an early stage and had not spread I did not have to undergo chemo, radiation or any other treatment. When I saw Dr. DiBetta after the surgery, he said that he could have done the DNC (the diagnostic test) because he "had done one when in medical school." I have tried to see a cardiologist and a dermatologist but he has refused to approve the referrals. I finally gave up and changed PPO.
