Northwest ENT Surgery Center Publishes All-Inclusive Pricing for ENT Surgery
New Website Offers Guaranteed, Transparent Pricing for Cash-Paying Patients
Atlanta, GA (November 25, 2013) – How much does a tonsillectomy really cost? In today’s medical marketplace, the answer is almost impossible to find. For an insured surgical candidate, the price of a single outpatient procedure, such as a tonsillectomy, consists of separate charges from the surgeon, the hospital or surgery center, anesthesia, and laboratory fees. Charges submitted are always higher— sometimes as much as 3 to 5 times— than the actual payment received from the insurance company. The total cost for anyone without insurance routinely exceeds $8,000 – $10,000 – even with the 50% discount many hospitals and surgery centers offer cash paying patients.
With the advent of the Affordable Healthcare Act, many Americans will find themselves paying even higher deductibles and co-payments. The two new least expensive plans — catastrophic and bronze — will require a maximum out of pocket expense of $6,250 for an individual and $12,000 for a family per year. A single routine elective outpatient surgery at a typical hospital will consist of multiple fees that will reach this out of pocket maximum before insurance covers 100%. To make matter more difficult for the average American, the actual amount covered by the insurance company for any of these services is based on a confidential fee schedule.
Northwest ENT Surgery Center, a single-specialty, ambulatory facility located in metro Atlanta, has published all-inclusive, guaranteed cash prices for many routine ENT surgeries, including ear tubes, tonsillectomies, and sinus surgery. Although Northwest ENT Surgery Center is not the first ambulatory facility to publish prices, it is the only outpatient surgery center that offers an all-inclusive fee that covers the surgeon, anesthesiologist, facility, equipment, laboratory services, office procedures, and diagnostic procedures. In most cases, these prices are significantly lower than the final costs for anyone with a high deductible plan.
Janice M., a part-time nurse and graduate student from New York City did not have insurance, but needed her tonsils removed due to chronic infection.
“I tried to get a cash price from many hospitals and surgery centers in the New York area, but I could not find any place that charged less than $10,000,” Janice said. “When I saw that Northwest ENT Surgery Center offered the same procedure for $2610, I knew I had to call.”
Janice contacted Northwest ENT Surgery Center through the recently launched, patient-centered website; after a phone consultation with Dr. Drew Locandro, she scheduled a date for surgery. She arrived the day before, met with the surgeon that afternoon and stayed overnight in a nearby, discounted hotel. Just a few hours after her procedure, Janice’s fiancé drove her back to the hotel where they stayed the evening, and returned to New York the next day.
“It was such a relief to find a surgery center that not only offered guaranteed, all-inclusive price for my tonsillectomy, but also made me feel at ease through the whole process,” said Janice. “The staff was warm and compassionate, and the Woodstock facility was truly impressive. I couldn’t have been happier with the care that I received.”
About Northwest ENT Surgery Center
Northwest ENT Surgery Center delivers high quality, outpatient care at a state-of-the-art, outpatient surgical center independently owned and operated by board certified physicians from Northwest ENT and Allergy Center. Our medical team is committed to delivering individualized, compassionate patient care in a specialized, personal environment. Licensed by the State of Georgia as an ambulatory surgery center and accredited by The Joint Commission, Northwest ENT Surgery Center provides surgical services to both local and out of town patients who are looking for high-quality care in a comfortable, professional environment. For more information, please contact Northwest ENT Surgery Center at (678) 483-8833.