Dr. Garth Davis and Atena???

[Paige65 1]

Hi!! I called my insurance company (Atena) and they will pay 80% (up to 12,000)... which is great but the only participating doctor is Dr. Garth Davis and it looks like I have to do a 3 or 6 month surpervised diet first! So I have several questions...

Have you used Dr. Davis and what can you tell me about him??? And did you have atena... and what was the process like?

Thanks in advance!!!

Edited May 7, 2008 by Paige65

[Raerae 0]

Hello... I am in the exact same situation as you. I too have Aetna insurance and my doc is or will be Dr. Garth Davis. I still have yet to go to the seminar next week but maybe you can help me out too on what you can learn from other members and vice versa about this.

Good Luck!!

[amylou07 0]

My employer only allows the option of Dr. Garth or Dr. Robert. I had the surgery on March 25. Aetna approved it with no problems following the required 3 month diet.

I have had no issues with either (Aetna or Dr. Davis). If you have any questions, let me know.

[coltonwade 27]

I have a friend considering going to the Davis' What is their schedule like to get in for fills ? How far out do you have to wait ? Also do the docs do the fills or a nurse or PA ?

Mindy

[lapjam 0]

Hi!! I called my insurance company (Atena) and they will pay 80% (up to 12,000)... which is great but the only participating doctor is Dr. Garth Davis and it looks like I have to do a 3 or 6 month surpervised diet first! So I have several questions...

Have you used Dr. Davis and what can you tell me about him??? And did you have atena... and what was the process like?

Thanks in advance!!!

My wife has been in Dr. Davis's program since the first part of this year. We have Aetna and they required the 3 month program along with medical records from the last five years, a letter from her primary doctor, etc. Unfortunately, Dr. Davis's office has not been much help in this process. His office staff seems overwhelmed. Basically, my wife gathered all of the info they needed and gave it to them. They have botched the internal process every step of the way. Dr. Davis has changed office managers and other key employees at least once this year. The change didn't seem to help. They consistently assure my wife that things are being taken care of (like submitting the paperwork to Aetna for final approval) only to find out a couple of weeks later that they have done nothing. It's very disappointing that Aetna has chosen Dr. Davis as the only bariatric doctor in the Houston area. I am sure they wouldn't be happy with his performance if they knew. His whole program is very impersonal. The patients get treated like a number from day one. It seems that the entire goal of Dr. Davis's office is to process patients through the system (mental health visits, nutritionist visits, & all the other things required by insurance) in order to get them approved rather than really creating a program that educates the patient on what they need to know pre & post surgery. If you use Doctor Davis I believe he probably does a good job on the actual surgery but everything else about his practice is greatly lacking. You'll need to do your own research to equip yourself properly for the aftercare program. If my wife had a choice she would take her business elsewhere. Repeated calls to Dr. Davis's office to resolve these issues fall on deaf ears. It seems he doesn't really care if he has a disgruntled patient or loses one here & there. After all, he's got a line of 'em out the door waiting to get in. Its kind of like Wal-Mart losing a customer....so what, who cares? There's more where they came from.

[lapjam 0]

Dr Garth Davis' office continues to amaze me with their poor customer service. Aetna has approved the lap band surgery and they seem to come up with every excuse in the book for not scheduling the surgery. Dr. Davis needs to quit playing TV star and focus on his practice. What a disappointment!

If you have a choice don't use Dr. Davis in Houston.

[Paige65 1]

So glad I was able to come up with the funds and go self pay with Dr. Spivak!!! Sorry your having so much trouble!