Financial Assistance Policy

It is the policy of Winter Garden Surgery Center, LLC. to collect all copayments, coinsurances, and deductibles at or before the time of service. Patients will be informed regarding how to request an estimate of charges for a scheduled procedure, what financial assistance may be available, and how to apply.

Florida law requires us to notify the patient or prospective patient that:

• Services may be provided in this health care facility by the facility as well as other health care providers who may separately bill the patient and who may or may not participate with the same health insurers or health maintenance organizations as the facility.
• The patient or prospective patient may or may not pay less for the services being provided at another facility or in another healthcare setting. Please know that the attending physician who scheduled the patient’s procedures(s) at the Facility may or may not be on the medical staff of other such facilities.

The Facility does not employ its own physicians. Each physician or provider of service will bill separately for his/her services and follow his/her own billing and collection procedures. There are no providers, other than the Facility itself, delivering medically necessary services in the Facility who are covered under this policy.

Request for Charge Estimates:

• In accordance with Florida law, upon verbal or written request, Winter Garden Surgery Center will provide the patient in writing or by electronic means a good faith estimate of the Facility’s anticipated gross charges based on the patient’s procedure(s) as indicated by the physician/surgeon to treat the patient’s condition within seven (7) business days of the request (if a patient is insured, the contracted insurance rates will supersede the gross charges estimate).
• As with any medical procedure, if unforeseen circumstances should arise during the procedure, it may be necessary for the physician to perform additional or different procedures and/or to use more/less expensive supplies or implants. The use of implants and/or the difference in procedures may cause the estimate to vary significantly. However, it is understood that final gross charges and patient responsibility will depend on actual services provided and may or may not exceed the original estimate.
• The estimate of charges being provided to the patient is for the facility only. If the patient would like a written estimate from other healthcare providers who will provide services in the facility, he/she should contact each healthcare provider as well as ask if they participate as a network provider or preferred provider for that patient or prospective patient’s individual health maintenance organization (insurance company).
• Prior to or on the day of surgery, before services are provided, it is Winter Garden Surgery Center‘s policy to collect in full al deductibles, coinsurances, and copayments as determined by the patient’s individual insurance company.
• The patient or prospective patient may contact his/her health insurer or health maintenance organization (insurance company) for additional information concerning cost-sharing responsibilities.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• If a patient informs Winter Garden Surgery Center that he/she is not able to fully pay his/her estimated deductible, coinsurance, or copayment at the time of service, there are 3rd party programs available that the patient can apply to which allows monthly payments to be made.
• All credit program website links and telephone numbers will be provided to the patient, along with a brief explanation of the program and application process.
• Winter Garden Surgery Center does not provide charity care.

The patient’s attending physician, and other health care providers, such as the anesthesiologist, pathology, and/or the laboratory service provider(s), are not a part of the Facility’s fees. If any of these providers delivered services to the patient during their short stay at the Facility, each of the provider(s) will bill separately for their services rendered. Such healthcare providers may or may not participate with the same health insurers or health maintenance organizations as the facility.