The procedure was Ms. Clarke’s second hip surgery. Her first operation ended up costing $64,000, twice the price she was originally quoted.
At the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, the procedure cost her $22,000.
Keith Smith, MD, and a colleague opened the ASC in 2009 and decided to post package procedure prices online after years of watching patients manage unpredictable healthcare costs.
“We basically felt like accessories to a crime, and that really wasn’t what we had in mind when we went to medical school,” Dr. Smith told Full Measure. “The hospitals were making a killing, and the patients were financially being abused.”
The center, owned and operated by about 40 surgeons, includes fees for the surgeon, anesthesiologist and facility in one price.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
