Singing River Weight Loss Center

About Singing River Weight Loss Center

What is Singing River Weight Loss Center?

Singing River Weight Loss Center is the weight loss program of Singing River Health System on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It has offices in Ocean Springs, Pascagoula and Gulfport, and this listing covers the program as a whole. The Ocean Springs line is (228) 872-7277. The program is mainly a bariatric surgery practice. It reports that it has offered bariatric surgery since 2000, that its surgeons have performed over 2,000 bariatric surgeries, and that it has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Its surgical options include gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and revision procedures.

Alongside surgery, it lists non-surgical services: weight loss, medical weight management, weight loss medications, dietary services and Biote hormone replacement therapy. In its own words: "We offer non-surgical weight loss options for medical weight management, including prescription GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide." The hormone service is testosterone and estrogen pellet therapy for men and women through Biote.

The prescribers listed are William T. “Pete” Avara III, MD, FACS, John Hall, MD, PhD, Jason Payne, MD, FACS, Madison Brown, PA-C, Chelsea Eure, AG-ACNP/FNP, Anna Kahlmus, NP, and Kaitlyn McMackin, PA-C. It does not name which of them manages semaglutide, tirzepatide or Biote patients. Two dietitians, Holden Adkins, RDN, LD and Arianna Swetman, PLDN, are also listed, but they are not prescribers.

What does it cost?

It does not publish prices. There is no published figure for the consultation, the medications or a monthly program, and it does not say whether medication is included in any price. It also does not say whether insurance is accepted. Its weight loss information lists financing options under the headings Insurance, SRFCU Financing Program, Cash/Self-Pay and Medical Spending Accounts, without saying what each covers.

The first step is a free webinar of about 25 minutes. Patients must finish it before a consultation, and the initial consultation is scheduled within three weeks of submitting paperwork. Patients are asked to have insurance information or self-pay arrangements organized before that visit.

What should you ask before you book?

Start with who prescribes. Ask which clinician will write and renew a semaglutide or tirzepatide prescription, who manages Biote therapy, and who you will see at follow-up.

Ask whether a monthly fee includes the medication or whether the drug is billed separately. Ask whether the medication is brand-name or compounded. Ask what follow-up visits and lab work cost. Lab work is described as part of long-term follow-up for surgery patients, so ask whether that applies to medication-only patients and what it costs.

Ask whether telehealth visits are offered, since this is not stated. Ask whether the webinar and consultation are required before medication or hormone therapy, and what the consultation costs. Finally, ask how cancellation works and whether any plan has a minimum term.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want weight loss medication or hormone therapy from a practice that also runs a bariatric surgery program, and you are willing to start with a free webinar and a consultation. If you need prices, telehealth or a named prescriber before you book, ask those questions first.

Sources: singingriverhealthsystem.com/locations/weight-loss-center-os, singingriverhealthsystem.com/areas-of-care/weight-loss-center, singingriverhealthsystem.com/2016/10/weight-loss-surgery-faq

Services Offered

Hours

Mon: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location