Question: Why am I receiving more than one bill for the same surgery?
Answer: Since there can be separate charges incurred during your surgical procedure. You could possibly receive bills from more than one company. These may include:
- Greenbrae Surgery Center
- Independent Anesthesiologist
- Pathologist – This includes specimens removed during surgery that require examination.
Question: What type of credit cards do you accept?
Answer: We accept major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, as well as cashier’s checks. We cannot accept personal checks, money orders, or cash.
Question: When should I expect my first bill?
Answer: We bill you your balance due after the insurance company has paid its claim. There could be a delay if your insurance company has paid incorrectly and we are required to re-submitted your claim.
Question: Are we able to set up a payment plan?
Answer: We ask that all balances be paid in full within 30 days of the procedure. We do not offer in-house payment plans.
Question: What is included in my bill?
Answer: The facility fee covers the cost of the OR, supplies, nurse and other staff as well as recovery room medications. We want to reduce the cost of your medical care as much as possible. Our invoices are not itemized since most procedures have previously established charges. You will receive separate invoices from us, the surgeon, anesthesiologist and possibly a pathologist. There may be specialty items that have further charges as well.
Question: What is your credit and payment policy?
Answer: Payment is due in full within 30 days of receiving your first statement, with a credit card or cashier’s check.
It is Greenbrae Surgery Center’s policy to turn over accounts more than 30 days delinquent to a collection agency.
We want to help you maximize the available benefits under your insurance plan. We will verify all eligibility, benefit, and pre-certification details with your insurer before the date of service, but we strongly encourage you to contact your insurance company about your procedure. It is essential that YOU, as the subscriber, confirm that prior authorization information is given and up to date before the date of your surgery.
Your insurance company (including worker’s comp) is responsible to you. Additionally, our billing office has a relationship with you. As such, all charges belong to you, whether or not your insurance company chooses to pay for them. In most cases, your insurance agency will provide a response within that 30 day period. However, if there is a delay, it is up to you to expedite payment. Contact our business office at 415-925-8900 if you need our assistance with coverage and how this affects you financially.
We submit all insurance claims and relevant documentation to your insurance carrier for you. We ask that all deductible, copay, and coinsurance amounts are paid on or before your date of surgery. Our billing department will contact you to discuss all relevant amounts.
Note that all amounts quoted before the procedure are only estimates and do not constitute payment in full. Additions or changes to the procedure or the use of special supplies or materials can result in additional charges. We will submit all additional charges to your insurance company before sending you a statement.
If your final patient responsibility is less than the amount paid at the time of service, we will post a refund to your account after we receive a correct payment from your insurance company. Credit card payments will refund the same day. Check refunds are sent to your mailing address within two to three weeks after insurance sends payment. If you have any questions about your refund, please contact our billing department.