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How much was your Surgeon and Hospital Bill for Davinci

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Posted 11/3/2006 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering what your doctors have charged for their surgery and what your hospital bill was. My surgeon charged $10,500 also added $2,100 for an assistant, that is the doctor that has done about 80+ Davinci, he was supervising I guess. The hospital charge for 2 days including the operating room was $30,570 I have also spent out of pocket since this thing started about $8,500 for the biopsy, bone scan, ct, lab, office calls and who knows what else. This little thing is going to run over $50,000 after the smoke clears. My insurance has a $7500.00 deductible and now they are denying the $10,500 surgery bill because  it is being billed as "other urological" instead of laproscopic prostatectomy which they will cover, they do not want to pay a dime toward the Davinci machine.  Just curious as to how your bills compare to mine.
Posted 11/3/2006 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
I think Pauls' was in the 37,000 neighborhood? Can't quite recall.
Posted 11/3/2006 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
I had an open procedure, but also ran into cost/insurance issues which fortunately I was able to resolve before surgery.  I highly recommend anyone who is about to have a prostatectomy to check with their insurance provider and first determine which doctors/hospitals are in their plan's network.  By doing so, you will be guaranteed PPO pricing.  I looked at one doctor/hospital which was out of network.  The estimated charges:  $42,000!!!!!!  I then realized I should check and see what docs/hospitals were in my network.  Discovered Johns Hopkins was in my network (not bad).  Had an open procedure three months ago.  I got the EOBs the other day.  Paperwork at my office (I'm at home right now).  Seem to recollect total charges after PPO discount came to about $8,000 for two days in the hospital (inclusive of OR charges).  Surgeon, anesthesiolgist, pathologist was about $5000 or so.  I couldn't believe the difference b/n the two facilities for the same procedure.  (Goes to show you what volume discounts can get you...great bargaining power.)  Given the quality of my surgeon and the hospital, not to mention the excellent results, I consider the services I got for the price I paid to be a great value.
Posted 11/3/2006 5:21 AM (GMT 0)

"It doesn't matter what they are saying, they are talking about money." Will Rogers

You're right about staying in the network. The doctors and hospital are in the network as preferred provoders for me. It is the billing code for the Davinci procedure that is the problem. The doctors office says they won't bill it as a laproscopic procedure alone because according to some legal people it is fraudulant billing. The insurance says they won't pay on it because it is "investigational and medically not needed and will be glad to pay the contracted rate for a laproscopic prostatectomy. There is no code or contract with the providers for "robotic assist". This will all work out. I know it is just to bad that it is a hassle. But it is our system and it makes jobs for a lot of folks right? Here is the bottom line, the doctors simply want more money for using the robot period. The insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. So, we all know it isn't about me. Sure glad it's not personal Ha Ha.

Posted 11/3/2006 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
maybe Paul's was so readily accepted by our insurance because our insurance is directly tied to U of M. With MCare selling to Blue Care network I can't wait to see what's in store now. Had that plan once and couldn't wait to change to a hospital based insurance plan...bah hum-bug
Posted 11/3/2006 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi 56pontiac,

All-in my DaVinci procedure at the Geo. Washington Univ. Hosp. here in DC was $36,000 and a little change. At that time I felt it was a bit pricy for 36 hours in the hospital, but now after hearing what others have been charged it seems as though I got a good deal; plus on Friday afternoon I ordered every thing on the menu.

Glen
Posted 11/3/2006 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I guess mine was a bit different. My company uses Blue Cross and I always see a signifcant decrease between whatever is billed and what the provider agrees to accept. At any rate, the hospital billed about $19,000 and accepted less than $3,000. The doctor's bill was $7,000 but accpeted $just over $3,000. I don't remember the details on the other bills - pathology, anesthesiologist, labs, xrays, etc, but in total they accepted less than $2,000.

So billed amounts totalled about $30,000, but paid amounts totalled pess than $10,000.
Posted 11/3/2006 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I guess we were lucky!!  The hospital cost for 2 days was almost $20,000.  I can't remember the exact amount, but we only had to pay $100 of it.  Our Federal Blue Cross insurance took care of the rest of it.  I can't remember what the doctor charged, but most of that was taken care of too.  It's an expensive insurance...over $200 a month, but worth it when something like this happens I guess.

Posted 11/3/2006 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
My bill so far was 16,000for 2days and Surgery. I,m not sure if thats the total yet but we did,nt have to kick in yet. open RP.  I hink I got a deal.    Shepla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted 11/4/2006 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thats steep, I think they should try at every oppurtunity to reduce cost for such things as this its bad enough to have it.
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