FAQ
You have questions and we have answers
Take a look at our FAQ section to make sure you’re informed about what to do before, during and after your appointment or surgical procedure.
Any patient receiving anesthesia should not drive until the next day. All patients must have a ride home and be received by a responsible adult when they arrive home. Patients will not be allowed to drive, walk or take public transportation after sedation or anesthesia. Please make the appropriate arrangements.
NO SURPRISES BILLING ACT
Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
You are protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed. If you receive other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network).
Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
Your health plan generally must:
- Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
- Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
- Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
- Count any amount paid for ER services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
If you think you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact our Business Office at 405-634-9300, or contact the federal phone number for information and complaints at 1-800-985-3059. Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers for more information about your rights under federal law.
We do ask that all balances are paid in full within 90 days. If you encounter problems paying within the 90 days, please contact our office immediately at 405-635-3000 and ask for our collections department.
We are dedicated to reducing the cost of your medical care. In fact, we do not itemize invoices since most procedures have established charges. You will receive separate invoices from us, your surgeon, RNA, and anesthesiologist, or pathologist. Some specialty items may require additional charges.
We will bill you any balance due after your insurance company has paid your claim. There may be a delay if your insurance company has paid us incorrectly and we have re-submitted your claim for a corrected payment and allowance determination.
We accept all major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover.
There are a number of separate charges associated with your surgical procedure. You MAY receive charges from several companies.
- The laboratory where your tissue specimans were examined.
- A Direct Medical Equipment (DME) company.
- Your anesthesiologist or CRNA.
- Your surgeon’s office – his/her fee for performing your surgery.
- Your pathologist – services for tissue specimens removed during surgery requiring further examination.
- An extended home healthcare service.
The management of your pain is of great importance to us. We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission until you receive our postoperative call at home. We need to inform and prepare you for each step of the process. This education will begin with our first contact. You will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain from a numerical scale called the Visual Analog Pain Scale, or for children, the Faces Pain Scale. Using the results of our communication we will alter the therapy as needed in order to assure your comfort.
The management of your pain will be taken very seriously. We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable, choosing from oral medications, intravenous medications, nerve blocks, injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, etc. Prior to the surgery, the management of your pain should be discussed with both your anesthesiologist and surgeon. Please feel free to bring up any concerns or fears you may have. Remember that information on pain management gives you the appropriate expectations and hence a smoother, more comfortable recovery.
- Bring case for eyeglasses or contacts
- Bring insurance identification cards, driver’s license, completed billing forms, copayments
- Bring all medication
- Make sure you have a ride home and someone to care for you at home
- Bring a favorite bottle or “sippy cup” for your child
- Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing
- Leave all jewelry and valuables at home
Yes. Please bring any walkers, post-op crutches, hearing aids, etc.
We will make every effort to accommodate any special need you may have. We strongly encourage you to call the Hospital in advance so that we can properly prepare to make you comfortable. Do not hesitate to call and suggest anything that may make your day easier.
All patients will be seen by the anesthesiologist on the day of surgery prior to entering the operating room. Sufficient time should be spent to answer any questions you may have. If you need to speak to the anesthesiologist before the day of surgery, you are welcome to call the Hospital and we will arrange for you speak with an anesthesiologist. We can also arrange a preoperative interview if you desire. You could also email your questions.
All patients will need an up-to-date medical history and physical form. Some may need blood tests, EKG or x-rays. Your surgeon will advise where you will have this done.
Some patients may choose to come to the Hospital before their surgery date to complete paperwork or make payments. We strongly recommend that you complete all preoperative documentation before the day of surgery.
It is very important for us to be aware of this possibility. Only essential surgery is done on pregnant patients. If there is any doubt please contact us immediately.
This will not affect most surgical procedures. There are a few specific gynecological procedures which may be impacted by menstruation. Call us if you have any questions at 405-634-9300.
If you are not feeling well, please contact your surgeon immediately. During normal business hours, you can call the Hospital for advice. There are some surgeries which are safer if delayed when you are sick. We need to know specific details to make the decision. Please do not delay in contacting your surgeon or the Hospital.
Yes. You can comfortably take a shower, bathe, brush your teeth, etc. Please do not use make up, hair spray, nail polish or toiletries. These may interfere with the anesthesia monitoring and possibly hide clinical signs from the anesthesiologist.
We will individualize each patient’s care. Most patients walk into the operating room themselves. Therefore, preoperative medication is minimized.
Yes. We call each patient before the surgery to provide information and answer any of your questions. Preoperative instructions will be given by the nurse who calls you. You can also call the Hospital directly with any questions.
You are welcome to bring one person with you to the Hospital. That person will be allowed to be in your room with you before surgery and may sit with you after the surgery if you so choose.
When a patient is a child often two parents and/or guardians will accompany him or her to the Hospital. We will do our best to accommodate everyone, however, one parent and/or guardian will be permitted into the recovery room at a time.
Please refrain from bringing young children to the Hospital as guests.
We generally request that you take your medication before leaving home. Diabetic medications will be individualized. We will usually hold diabetic medicines and manage your sugar at the Hospital. You should be contacted before your surgery leaving no doubts in your mind as to which medications you should take. Please bring all your medications with you.
People using inhalers must bring them to the Hospital on the day of surgery.
Some medications will be stopped for the surgery, particularly diabetes medication and blood thinners. You should bring these medications with you the day of surgery. Please call us with any questions you may have.
You refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery in order to prevent the risks of aspirating gastric contents during your surgery. This complication is very serious and you need to strictly abide by our recommendations. This has nothing to do with nausea and vomiting after your surgery as some think.
We have very clear policies as to specific times before surgery when you must refrain from eating and/or drinking. These are all based on safety standards. Please note that the standards have been revised recently. We believe that the fasting time should be as short as possible before your surgery. You will not improve your safety by not eating or drinking longer than necessary; in fact, at times you may complicate things a bit.
Please wear comfortable clothing. Button-down shirts or blouses are best. Wear comfortable shoes. Leave all jewelry at home, including body-piercing jewelry. If you wear contact lenses, you will probably have to remove them for the surgery, so consider bringing your glasses. If you have to wear your contacts, please bring contact solution and contacts case. Please do not wear any make-up as this can hide certain clinical signs.
Please notify the surgeon and the Surgical Hospital of Oklahoma at 405-635-3036 as early as possible if you cannot make your scheduled appointment. Early notification can help us better accommodate you and other patients.
Yes. We strongly encourage you to have completed all the registration forms before the day of surgery. We prefer that you simply walk in the day of your surgery and be shown to your room rather than fill out pages of paperwork.