I wasted 18 months and $15.000 out of pocket dealing with Dr. Todd's office.  I completed all requirements within 3 months of my initial appointment with him, during which he rushed out to perform a surgery which is totally understandable but still charged me $500+ for an "in depth 60+ minute medically complicated consultation" which was not covered my insurance.  In reality I was with him for approximately 8 minutes during which time his office manager kept opening the exam room door and saying she needed to "keep the door open to keep him moving quickly". The lobby and waiting room was full, so there was absolutely no privacy.  After all of that, I waited months and months and months and months for authorization and a surgery date with weekly check-ins (which I was also charged for!). Come to find out, I was never sent for authorization, then I was told because it had been so long I would have to start repeating pre-op testing, and it would be several more months before I could get a surgery date "because patients who had all of their stuff together are first priority".  I did have all of my stuff together, but staff did not!  I also had to repeat tests several times, and make several additional trips to Anchorage because they "forgot" various things, like tobacco screening tests, which I could have done locally. The staff is all around highly incompetent, with very poor patient care/customer service. Dr. Todd would have a more successful practice if he hired qualified staff rather than former patients. 

I am also a patient of Dr. Todd.  I am waiting for insurance approval(hopefully the office was able to send it out after waiting to download sleep study info),....and boy have they made me jump through hoops!!!  I thought I was ahead of the game getting things situated before the initial visit but like you, I don't live in Anchorage either but in Bethel, which makes it even harder, and less of support than Jumeau.  As far as the SGM, I was told I can do them a couple days before surgery as that is a Dr. Todd requirement, NOT an insurance requirement....and luckily the office offers multiple meetings every week, I also believe there is another place to go for meetings that Dr. Todd accepts,....I'll have to look for the information again. If you have any questions let me know....I would love to talk to someone doing the same thing I am,.....waiting!  I started this in March....Good Luck! 

That is really cool; I tried to go to support group meetings before my appointment but the ladies at the clinic said that I should wait until after my appointment.  I'm in Anchorage about every 6-8 weeks for work; I could have been to several. I'm planning to go to 2 on the 12th and get the 3rd one done in September when I'm back up there for work.  I've got a list of questions to ask that my primary care dr and I came up with; she's going to be overseeing all of my labs and tests that have to be done since I'm going to have them done in Juneau.

Awesome!  Good luck.  Have you attended all of the support group meetings?  I'm only going to be in Anchorage for the 12th to go to my 1st appointment but hoping to get 2 of the 3 support group meetings out of the way then.  I've already met my insurances requirements so I'm hoping the approval process goes as quickly as possible.  Can you think of anything I need to do that will help my appointments go smoothly on the 12th?  Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I live in Juneau and have to go to Anchorage to see a surgeon about WLS.  My insurance recommended Dr. Todd and I have an appointment with him on August 12.  I would really like to meet some people I can chat with and get to know who have been through this process.  Thanks