Business ProfileforValley ENT PC

I am a patient of *************************** at this Valley ENT location. On 3/20/23 I had a post-op visit with **************** in which I presented with discomfort at the surgical incision site in my left nostril following a 2/21 surgery to remove a benign papilloma. This was my fourth of five visits to Valley ENT between December and April. On 3/20, according to Dr. ******* notes in my patient portal, a superficial infection was diagnosed and I was given a prescription for Bactrim (antibiotics). **************** took a nasal swab and said she would check the culture. Here is what occurred:- ****************/Valley ENT sent the nasal swab culture to Southwest Regional PCR / MicroGenDX - a lab that is out of my insurance network, unbeknownst to me, and without my authorization. - I received a bill for $199 from MicroGenDX on 5/8 for this 3/20 ENT sinus test service that I would qualify as unnecessary and authorized by me, the patient and insured party.- This action by Valley ENT led to an insurance claim with my carrier, ****** for $501 (ID: ********* due to it being out of network.- I believe this failure to inform me of the laboratory out-of-network action falls under the No Surprises Billing Act, which, according to Valley ENTs website protects patients against, Surprise medical bills (that) arise when insured consumers inadvertently receive care from out-of-network hospitals, physicians, or other providers they did not choose.-I am concerned that while MicroGenDX is billing me for $199 that I could owe $501 for services that I did not authorize; all because I was having continuing discomfort post-op and merely wanted to follow up with my doctor.-I paid for my office visit on 3/20 ($129.02 claim via ******* At no point was I given indication that I would owe more for lab work.-My medical bills for this surgical procedure are in excess of $5000 and I would like some relief.