Surgery Center

The Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center contracts with the following insurance companies.

SELF PAY – COSMETIC SURGERY  – ELECTIVE SURGERY

You will be contacted prior to your surgery with an estimated procedure cost for you surgery.  Payment in full must be received prior to your date of surgery.  Cash, Credit Cards, Cashier’s Check, or Care Credit are accepted.  Personal checks are not accepted on the day of surgery.

If your insurance company is not listed, it may be considered to be part of one of the networks listed above.  Please call our office at 210-581-5900 and ask to talk with the billing department for more information.

There are a number of separate charges associated with your surgical procedure.  It is possible that you may receive charges from several companies including:

1. Your surgeon’s office – his/her fee for performing your surgery.
2. Your anesthesiologist’s office – his/her fee for performing your surgery.
3. Your pathologist – services for tissue specimens removed during surgery requiring further examination.

Full payment prior to or on the day of surgery is expected.  Because the cost of surgery at an outpatient center is significantly less than it is in a hospital, we must collect amounts due in order to continue offering services.  If you anticipate payment being a problem, please ask to speak with someone about rescheduling your surgery or about another payment option.

Your insurance company, including Worker’s Compensation, auto (no fault) and personal injury, is legally responsible to you.  Our relationship is with you, our patient, not your insurance company.  Consequently, all charges incurred are your responsibility.  The obligation to assure payment in a timely manner lies with you regardless of what your insurance company chooses to do.  You should normally receive a response from your insurance company within 30 days of your date of service.  If you experience a delay, it is expected that you contact your insurance company to check the status of your claim and to expedite payment.  Please call our Business Office at 210-581-5900 if you encounter a problem with your insurance company and need our assistance.

Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

Billing FAQ

Question: Why am I receiving more than one bill for the same surgery?
Answer: There are a number of separate charges associated with your surgical procedure.  You MAY receive charges from several companies.

1. Your surgeon’s office – his/her fee for performing your surgery.
2. Your Anesthesiologist’s office – his /her fee for providing anesthesia services
3. Your pathologist – services for tissue specimens removed during surgery requiring further examination.

Question: What type of credit cards do you accept?
Answer: We accept all major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and CareCredit.  You are welcome to visit the CareCredit website at: www.carecredit.com to pre-apply for their services before your date of surgery.

Question: When should I expect my first bill? 
Answer: 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. If you receive any correspondence from your insurance company, please respond immediately as failing to do so,  may delay or cause denial of your claim.

Question: Do you charge interest?
Answer: No

Question: Are we able to set up a payment plan?
Answer: Full payment prior to or on the day of surgery is expected.  Because the cost of surgery at an outpatient center is significantly less than it is in a hospital, we must collect amounts due in order to continue offering services.  If you anticipate payment being a problem, please ask to speak with someone about rescheduling your surgery or about another payment option.

Question: What is included in my bill?
Answer:  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, your anesthesiologist, or the pathologist.  Some specialty items may require additional charges.

We strongly encourage you to personally contact your insurance company about your upcoming surgery.  It is mandatory that YOU, as the insurance subscriber, confirm that all prior authorization information necessary to your specific policy is completed before your surgery date.  You may be penalized by your insurance company if you don’t follow your policy guidelines.  You must understand what your benefits cover and how this may affect you financially.

We will submit insurance claims for you.  We may request that your deductible and copay amounts are paid on or before your date of surgery.  You will receive a notice from us regarding the amount to pay.  Self-pay accounts are required to pay the full amount prior to your date of surgery.

Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center’s policy is to turn over to an attorney or collection agency all accounts which are delinquent.  You will be responsible for any collection fees that are incurred.
We utilize MNet Financial as our Collection Agency.  Patients may contact them at (888)-816-5944 or contactus@mnetfinancial.com.

Anesthesia will be provided by an Anesthesiologist or CRNA. You will have the opportunity to meet your anesthesia provider and discuss your anesthesia plan of care prior to your procedure.

Anesthesiologists practicing at the Center are members of the following group:

• YPS Anesthesia.– 1-855-300-7525

The types of anesthesia provided range from sedation, regional, and general anesthesia.

Special Care For Special Needs Adults

We understand that loved ones who depend upon others for daily living require special attention.  Besides the guidelines in the Before My Surgery and Day of Surgery, the following tips will help make care for these adults easier:

Consent 
The legal guardian needs to sign the consent for surgery and anesthesia on or before the day of surgery.

For Admission 
Please bring the patient’s recent health history and medication information.  Be certain to follow the food and drink rules in the Before My Surgery section.

Personal Attendant 
As with other patients, special needs patients require a parent, legal guardian or another responsible adult to remain at the center from admission through recovery.  A personal attendant will be required to stay with the patient for 24 hours after discharge.

Do I need to visit the Center before surgery date?
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. It is important to complete all pre-ordered labs prior to your surgery.

Some patients may choose to come to the Center before their surgery date to complete paperwork or make payments. We strongly recommend that you complete all preoperative documentation before the day of surgery.

May I pre-register for my surgery?
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. Click here to pre-register.

What if I cannot make my appointment?
Please notify the surgeon and the Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center at 210-581-5900 as early as possible if you cannot make your scheduled appointment. Early notification can help us better accommodate you and other patients.

What should I wear?
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 remove all body piercings.

Why must I refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to surgery?
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.

Should I take my usual daily medication?
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 Center. 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 Center 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.

May I continue my herbal medications?
Herbal medications may have harmful effects on the surgery. Many of these remedies may effect your clotting mechanism and interfere with the anesthetic agents. (The list of drugs and their side effects are too great for this site.) We generally request that you stop these medications two weeks before surgery. Please remember to mention these remedies when being asked about medication.

Who may accompany me?
You are welcome to bring one person with you to the Center. 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.

Please refrain from bringing young children to the Center as guests.

Will I receive sedation before going into the operating room?
We will individualize each patient’s care. Most patients walk into the operating room themselves. Therefore, preoperative medication is minimized.

Will I be contacted before my surgery?
Yes. We call each patient before the surgery to gather information and to helpful to us and hopefully answer any of your questions. Preoperative instructions will be given by the nurse who calls you. You can also call the Center directly with any questions.

Should I bathe and wash my hair before leaving home?
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.

What should I do if I am not feeling well?
If you are not feeling well, please contact your surgeon immediately. During normal business hours, you can call the Center 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 Center.

What should I do if I started my menstrual cycle?
This will not affect most surgical procedures. There are a few specific gynecological procedures that may be impacted by menstruation. Call us if you have any questions at 210-581-5900.

What should I do if I believe that I am pregnant?
It is very important for us to be aware of this possibility. If there is any doubt please contact us immediately.

May I drive home?
Any patient receiving anesthesia should not drive until the next day. A patient receiving sedation for a procedure needs a ride home. The few patients who have procedures performed under local anesthesia alone could possibly drive home.

We would strongly recommend that all patients have a ride home and will 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.

May I speak to my anesthesiologist before the surgery?
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 Center and we will arrange for you speak with an anesthesiologist. We can also arrange a preoperative interview if you desire.

What if I have special needs?
We will make every effort to accommodate any special need you may have. We strongly encourage you to call the Surgery Center 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.

Should I bring my special needs equipment?
Yes. Please bring any walkers, post-op crutches, hearing aids, etc.

What must I bring with me on the day of surgery?

• Bring a 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
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
• Leave all jewelry and valuables at home

How will my pain be managed?
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. 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. and 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.

From Loop 410 :   Take Fredericksburg Road west.  Travel 1.4 miles.  Turn left on Louis Pasteur.  The Center is located on the right in the Pasteur Plaza Medical Complex.

From IH10 :  Exit Medical Drive.  Follow Medical Drive to Fredericksburg Road.  Turn left on Fredericksburg.  Turn right on Louis Pasteur.  The Center is located on the right in the Pasteur Plaza Medical Complex.

Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center
7909 Fredericksburg #222
San Antonio, TX 78229
Phone: 210-581-5900
Fax: 210-679-3740