Going to the hospital for a procedure can create a lot of anxiety, the fear of the unknown. Buena Vista Regional Medical Center works to reduce a patient’s anxiety and help them feel reassured prior, during and after the procedure. An area that can cause added anxiety is the cost of care.
Insurance, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum are all terms that can be confusing to people that don’t work in health care. BVRMC’s Business Office is now working to help people better understand their health insurance benefits and what a procedure is going to cost. Financial Counselors will begin their efforts on Diagnostic Imaging and Outpatient Surgical departments; however, an estimate can be requested on all services at any time.
Patients may receive a phone call prior to services or an estimate letter upon registration to review health insurance benefits and expected out of pocket costs. BVRMC stresses no one will be turned away for a procedure based on their ability to pay. No prepayments are being asked for at this time. By providing the information prior to procedures it opens the line of communication between the hospital and patient which can help the Financial Counselors inform patients of assistance programs they may not be aware of. If a patient is concerned about paying for their service, the BVRMC Financial Counselors can assist with financial assistance and payment plans.
“Due to higher deductibles and out of pocket expenses, we feel it’s become even more important for us to provide upfront information regarding these costs- no patient wants to experience sticker shock. Now with our EPIC system we can easily run our services with patient’s insurance information and come up with a very accurate estimate,” explains Financial Counselors Amanda Foell and Lacey Anderson.
This process is already being used by other hospitals, specialty doctors and clinics. The estimate provided will be for BVRMC services, they will not include the cost of specialty doctors or anesthesia services. Research shows that open communication regarding the costs of services actually reduces anxiety.
If you have any questions regarding an estimate of a service or payment for a current bill you can contact BVRMC’s Financial Counselors, Lacey Anderson at 712.213.8689 or Amanda Foell at 712.213.8688.