Business ProfileforSouthwestern Eye Center

While Southwestern Eye Center has good doctors and their office staff at the *************** Office and Outpatient Surgical Center were friendly and responsive. Their billing practices border on deceptive. I was told in my pre-operative financial meeting that in order to get the higher quality Toric Single Focus cataract lens, I would have to pay an additional fee for the upgraded lens. I was told the additional cost of the lens would be $3,000. As their billing computers were down for over six weeks, I was not able to get an itemized, detailed invoice related to this cost, even though I asked for it several times.I went forward with the surgery, believing that the only outstanding bill would be for the high quality premium lens. When the itemized bill arrived (after insurance had paid their share), I discovered I was not only paying for the upgraded lens, but Southwestern was tacking on additional surgeon and facility fees. The actual cost of the Toric lens, according to the itemized bill, was $800. Additional fees for the surgeon ($1,385) and facility ($840) were also added to the bill. Southwestern Eye Center was paid $2,323.90 for the 90 minute, out-patient surgery.The surgery to implant the Toric verses the standard cataract lens is the same. The amount of time it takes to do the surgery is the same. The skill needed by the surgeon is the same. The only extra cost should have been for the upgraded lens, which was $800. Southwestern Eye Center is not only charging a premium for the better lens, but they are double-billing patients for additional facility and surgeon fees. Patients need to be aware of these overbilling practices.