M A R C H 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 5
I
t's easy for patients
to get confused
when you try to col-
lect fees for non-covered
and covered services.
Wait a minute, if they're
covered services, aren't
they covered? Well, yes,
they are, but they don't
cover what your contract
with your insurance com-
pany requires you to pay
for covered services: your
copay, deductible and coin-
surance.
It gets more confusing
when surgeons offer
patients femtosecond laser surgery and a premium intraocular lens
for, let's say, $3,000 out of pocket, and tell them that "everything else
is covered." Not exactly. Patients are still responsible to pay the facil-
ity for covered services. In addition to having surgeons complete this
letter and give it to their patients when they are booked, we notify
patients of the amount due at check-in 72 hours in advance of their
surgery.
Kelly A. Fitzpatrick, RN, BSN, MBA
Garden City (N.Y.) SurgiCenter
(Northwell Health)
kfitzpatrick@gardencitysurgicenter.com
Clearing Confusion Over Covered
vs. Non-covered Services
•
GOT
YOU
COVERED
The
letter
breaks
down
what
patients
owe
for
non-covered
services
and
reminds
them
that
they're
responsible
to
pay
for
a
portion
of
covered
services.
