Woman sues St. Clair County for failing to pay for weight loss surgery

A St. Clair County woman has filed suit against the county, alleging it refused to pay for a weight loss surgery.

Tisa Gartney claims she was recommended to have a Laproscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding procedure performed in April 2006.

Before going through with the surgery, Gartney checked with her health insurance program, which was administered through St. Clair County, to make sure it would pay for the procedure, according to the complaint filed March 20 in St. Clair County.

Once the St. Clair County Group Health Insurance Plan authorized the surgery, Garney had it performed at Alexis Hospital on July 17, 2006, the suit states.

However, St. Clair County's health insurance program refused to pay for the surgery it authorized.

"That the medical bills incurred in the treatment and procedure total $33,198.25," the suit states.

In addition to seeking reimbursement for the costs of the surgery, Gartney is asking for an additional 60 percent of the amount of surgery costs awarded, attorneys' fees and court costs.

She is represented by Kevin Boyne of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0151.