Rochester (N.Y.) Surgery Center is now operated as an outpatient department of Rochester (N.Y.) General Hospital, leading to changes in the surgery center’s billing practices, according to an Aug. 21 report from WHEC.
The transition took effect Aug. 1, with the surgery center becoming more integrated with the hospital and Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health.
Because surgeries at the ASC are now billed as hospital outpatient services, patients’ out-of-pocket costs may change.
A spokesperson for Rochester Regional provided the following statement to WHEC: “Effective August 1, Rochester Surgery Center became part of Rochester General Hospital and is now operated as an outpatient department of the hospital. As a result, services provided at the center are billed as hospital outpatient services. This transition more fully integrates Rochester Surgery Center into Rochester General Hospital and Rochester Regional Health, including the health system’s continued investment in its electronic medical record and other technology and infrastructure that support patient care. It also brings the center’s surgical services under the hospital’s existing clinical and quality oversight structure, helping to strengthen coordination of care, support consistent quality and patient safety practices, and provide a more connected experience for patients across the health system. A patient’s out-of-pocket costs may vary based on their individual insurance coverage and benefits. Rochester Regional Health is committed to helping patients understand this change and providing information about their estimated financial responsibility prior to their procedure.”
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