Question:
How much did you pay the anesthesiologist on self pay?

Mine billed me $3600. The insurance paid $1200, and now they want me to pay the other $1400. My surgeon said that was ridiculus, they should accept the insurance payment as paid in full. How much did you self payers have to pay?    — Gail O. (posted on September 19, 2003)

September 19, 2003
I paid $2,140
   — e T.

September 19, 2003
Mine billed me $1700. They're getting 10 bucks a month because they didn't tell me this was supposed to be paid for BEFORE the surgery.
   — cinthygrady

September 19, 2003
oops, the insurance has already paid $2,200
   — Gail O.

September 19, 2003
I paid $1200. (INsurance covered) but the bill was for $1700.
   — Deborah M.

September 19, 2003
I was a self pay. The amount had to be paid up front before the surgery. The anesthesiologist portion was $1,200 for a lap rny.
   — Kelly R.

September 19, 2003
My anesthesiologist fees were $850. I live in Louisiana.
   — Wanda B.

September 19, 2003
I personally think that $3600 is insane, unless you were in surgery for like 10 hours. It is billed in 10 minute increments. What I would do is call some of the other anestheology places in the area and as how much they charge per base unit. Then call this doctor and ask the same thing. Anesthesiology bills are billed in a base units and additional base units. Each surgery procedure code has a nationally determined amount of base units and a doctor can not bill for more of those unless there are specific items that make you higher risk. For my open RNY there were 6 base units, which would be the same if your surgery was the same procedure code. Then he was allowed to bill with a #3 modifier code on the procedure code because of the morbid obesity and risk etc. The last thing they are allowed to bill are time units. Time units are in 10 minute increments. My total bill was $1,640. It broke down into 6 base units and 14 time units for a total of 20 billable units at $82 each. I already knew before surgery that the doctor billed at a higher amount per base unit that my insurance would pay but I knew it would be less than $200 for me. <p>The initial bill was not paid in full. BCBS paid $1453 which left a balance of $187. I knew it should be closer to $100 so I questioned whether they factored in the P3 modifier, which allows a higher amount to be paid on the base units. They had not. So when it reprocessed I ended up with a balance of $101 to pay. Considering other than my yearly deductibel and co-pay, that is all I paid of my surgery, I was very pleased. <p>Anesthesiology bills are very strange and don't let them push you off when you call. I suspect if you check around your doctor is either billing WAY above the going rate or has billed for way too many time units. If you had LAP RNY then you will need to ask what the base units are for that procedure and adjust the math. Based on your bill, if my doctor had sent me that bill (at the $82 per unit he bills) it would mean I was in surgery for 38 time units or 380 minutes which is 6-1/3rd hours. If you know you were in surgery less time then make them prove to you what makes up that bill. His cost per unit may be higher but it would have to be more than double what mine was in order to reflect a 2-3 hour surgery which is what most are. You can also get a copy of the surgery report from the hospital which will tell exactly how long your were under anesthesia. If everything confirms that he is way overcharging for the area and/or has billed the wrong amount of time units then tell them to take a flying leap. The $2200 is way plently. I'm guessing he is billing way to high per unit. Also find out if he billed with a modifier code, because if he did and your insurance company missed it, reprocessing with this modifier factored in will increase the payment from insurance. <p>Can you tell I've had 10 surgeries. LOL With the exception of 1 surgery, I have never had my anesthesiology bills paid in full the first time through. However, by the time I was done only two ended up with small balances and the only one I had to pay was the $101 from my WLS. The other one was written off, which was like $50. Good Luck and feel free to contact me directly if I can be of any help.
   — zoedogcbr

September 22, 2003
Actually anesthesia is billed in 15 minute increments, not 10. I paid medical claims for 15 years and know this from my previous background. You should contact your insurance company (if you have a PPO plan) and find out if that group of anesthesiologists has a contract with your insurance carrier. If so, you shouldn't have to pay anything more then what your plan indicates. If they don't have a contract with them, I would let the insurance company know they are balance billing you and ask if the insurance carrier can make an additional payment to this provider since they are not in the PPO network. Some carriers will since you have NO choice who you get as an anesthesiologist when you go to the hospital. Some carriers will pay more due to this. However, the anesthesiologist seems to be charging an excessive amount. I was in surgery for about 3 hours and the total bill was $1100. I would ask them to send you an itemized bill with how they come up with $3600.
   — Patty H.

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