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NW ENT Surgery Center Press

Read our reviews, press releases, and other articles on healthcare to learn more about current healthcare pricing and procedures in the United States.

Price Transparency

Northwest ENT Surgery Center Offers Tonsillectomy for Patients with No Insurance

About Atlanta's Leading Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery Center

Northwest ENT Surgery Center Publishes All-Inclusive Pricing for ENT Surgery

Northwest ENT and Allergy Center Launches National Surgery Focused Website

A Limit on Consumer Costs Is Delayed in Health Care Law: New York Times

The Cure for the $1000 Toothbrush: New York Times


Expect Increased Out of Pocket Expenses in 2014

As the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) takes effect in 2014, the greatest change noticed by most will be the unexpected increase in out of pocket expenses.  Required by law (individuals now and employers next year), generally healthy individuals and families will often choose the health insurance plan with the lowest monthly cost.  As with any insurance, however, the lowest premiums come with the highest out of pocket expense.

This year, high deductible plans may reach over $6,000 for an individual and over $12,000 for a family before insurance pays. One outpatient surgery at a typical hospital will approach this amount when the allowed facility fee is added to other fees for the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and testing (pathology, radiology, labs and other tests).

Generally healthy individuals or families with a high deductible insurance plan in need of an outpatient elective ENT surgical procedure now have the opportunity to save thousands by choosing a cash option for surgery.  Our common procedures are priced well below the maximum yearly out of pocket maximum for many of these high deductible plans.

Year

Minimum deductible (single)

Minimum deductible (family)

Maximum out-of-pocket (single)

Maximum out-of-pocket (family)

2009 $1,150 $2,300 $5,800 $11,600
2010 $1,200 $2,400 $5,950 $11,900
2011 $1,200 $2,400 $5,950 $11,900
2012 $1,200 $2,400 $6,050 $12,100
2013 $1,250 $2,500 $6,250 $12,500
2014 $1,250 $2,500 $6,350 $12,700

Sinus Surgery

Who is a candidate for sinus surgery?

For most cases of acute sinusitis, an ear, nose, and throat specialist will prescribe a variety of medications, such as antibiotics, decongestants, and antihistamines. Typically, these treatments are effective in resolving the symptoms of acute sinusitis.

However, some patients may experience recurring sinus infections, or find that their symptoms are not responsive to any course of medication. In order to treat these cases of acute or chronic sinusitis, some ENT physicians may recommend sinus surgery.

What types of sinus surgeries are available?

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

During functional endoscopic sinus surgery, the surgeon gently inserts an endoscope, a thin, fiber-optic tube, into the nose. With the help of the endoscope, an ear, nose, and throat specialist can carefully examine the sinus openings and identify diseased sinonasal tissue. Using highly precise instruments, the surgeon can then remove any abnormal tissues, opening the sinus passages and leaving no external scars.

Image Guided Sinus Surgery

For more complicated cases of chronic sinusitis, an ear, nose, and throat specialist may recommend image guided sinus surgery. Using a three-dimensional, image guided mapping system, the surgeon can navigate narrow, complex sinus openings more easily, resulting in a more accurate and effective sinus surgery.

Can patients with no insurance find fair pricing for sinus surgery?

Northwest ENT Surgery Center, a single-specialty, outpatient facility, offers guaranteed, out of pocket pricing for surgical candidates with no insurance. Although our surgery center is not the first to publish transparent, guaranteed prices for ear, nose, and throat procedures, it is the only ambulatory facility that offers an all-inclusive fee, which covers office services, surgeon and anesthesiologist’s fees, facility, equipment, and laboratory fees.

Located in metro Atlanta, Georgia, Northwest ENT Surgery Center offers a number of specialty ear, nose, and throat procedures, including functional endoscopic sinus surgery, image guided sinus surgery, septoplasty, and others. Call (678) 483-8833 to learn more about our guaranteed, out of pocket pricing for surgical candidates with no insurance or high deductibles.

Drew Locandro, M.D.

Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Drew M. Locandro received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. He attended Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey, where he specialized in otolaryngology and completed his residency at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York.

Dr. Locandro has extensive experience with common ENT procedures and special expertise with nasal/sinus surgery, cosmetic nasal surgery, and advanced ear surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Shatul Parikh, M.D.

Dr. Shatul Parikh, a native Atlantan, received his undergraduate degree from Emory University, and completed his medical studies at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Parikh returned to Emory University to complete his residency in Otolaryngology.

Dr. Parikh is a nationally recognized expert in minimally invasive thyroid/parathyroid surgery. Currently an instructor for the American Board of Otolaryngology, Dr. Parikh teaches other surgeons advanced techniques in thyroid/parathyroid surgery. He is also experienced in all routine ENT procedures.

Dr. Shatul Parikh is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is also the medical director of Northwest ENT Surgery Center.

Ryan Kauffman, M.D.

A native Georgian from the Greater Atlanta area, Dr. Ryan Kauffman attended Vanderbilt University, where he received his undergraduate degree, medical degree, and completed his residency in Otolaryngology. Dr. Kauffman has experience in all routine ENT procedures with special interest in endoscopic sinus surgery and pediatric otolaryngology.

Dr. Kauffman is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Avani Ingley, M.D.

Dr. Avani Ingley grew up in Vidalia, Georgia, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. She completed her medical studies and residency in Otolaryngology at Emory University in Atlanta. Additionally, she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, one of the nation’s most prestigious medical honor societies.

Dr. Ingley has experience in all routine ENT procedures with special interest in pediatric otolaryngology and nasal/sinus surgery. She is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Scheduling Your Surgery

For more information about scheduling your surgery, contact one of our representatives at 770-427-0368. Our surgical coordinators will guide you through the process of scheduling your procedure and provide you with information about your case, our physicians, and the center. Learn more…

Our Surgical Team

Our highly qualified team possesses a rich and varied background of experience and education. Hailing from a number of well-respected institutions, including Emory University, Rutgers University, Duke University, and Vanderbilt University, our staff of board certified physicians is trained in all subspecialty areas of otolaryngology and pediatric ear, nose, and throat care. Our highly experienced surgical team routinely performs common ENT procedures with excellent outcomes.

The Northwest ENT surgical team is committed to providing superior, individualized care in a comfortable, patient-centered environment. Visit the biographies of our providers below to learn more.

After Scheduling Your Surgery

Complete your pre-surgery registration online with Northwest ENT Surgery Center. Using One Medical Passport, you can quickly & easily give us the information we need to help you prepare for any surgical procedure.

 


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