Understanding Your Surgery Billing

As you prepare for your surgery, we want you to understand how you will be billed for the services you receive. The success of your surgery depends on a team effort by many dedicated professionals, including those in our surgery center. Since government and insurance rules allow us to bill only for our facility, you will receive separate bills from other professionals involved in your care, such as your surgeon and anesthesiologist.

Depending on your specific surgery or procedure, you will receive at least two separate bills and possibly more. We do realize that multiple bills can be confusing. Our staff will do their best to assist you with questions and will refer you to the proper sources of information. If you have questions about your bills, please do not hesitate to contact us at (406) 542-6559.

The following is an explanation of the bills you may receive:

1. Surgery Center’s Bill

You will receive a Facility Fee Bill from Big Sky Surgery Center. This bill includes staff, supplies and equipment used for services provided by Big Sky Surgery Center. Questions and payments regarding this bill should be addressed directly to us.

2. Surgeon’s Bill

Since the surgeon performing your surgery is not an employee of the surgery center, your surgeon will bill you separately for services performed. All questions and payments regarding the surgeon’s services should be addressed to your surgeon’s office.

3. Anesthesiologist’s Bill

The anesthesia you receive during your surgery is provided by an anesthesiologist who is not a staff member of the surgery center. You will receive a separate bill for the services provided by the anesthesiologist. Questions regarding this bill should be addressed to Missoula Anesthesiology at (406) 728-8420.

4. Other Bills

Depending on several factors relating to your surgery, you may receive other services for which you will be separately billed. These bills will not be sent by Big Sky Surgery Center, but will be sent to you by the facility or entity performing those services. These additional bills may include, but are not limited to:

Laboratory/Pathology Bill – This bill may include charges for blood and/or urine tests, charges for tissue sampling and diagnosis, allergy testing, etc.

Radiology Bill – Charges may include services for X-rays, such as angiograms, MRI’s, CT scans, ultrasounds or other diagnostic testing.

Cardiology Bill – Charges may include services for Electrocardiograms (EKG’s), cardiology consults, etc.

Durable Medical Equipment Bill – These charges include the fees for equipment on loan to you from a medical supply company. The company supplying the equipment will send you their bill.

Physical Therapy Bill (if applicable) – If physical therapy services are needed before or after your surgery, your surgeon will refer you to a physical therapist. These bills will be sent from the physical therapist’s office, and questions should be addressed to that office. If at any time you have questions about your surgery billing, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.