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ST. GEORGE — When it comes to having surgery, many patients fear the bill as much as the recovery.
"Historically we don't know the price. We go in. We get our service done and even six months later we are getting a bill for surgery," said Jerry Hadlock, director of anesthesia at the St. George Surgical Center. "It's usually not what we thought it was going to be, it's usually a whole lot more."
But at the St. George Surgical Center patients know exactly what they are going to pay before they go under the knife and that price is guaranteed.
"Whether that hernia repair takes 30 minutes or two hours, the price is what it is," explained Hadlock.
In 2014, Hadlock's center became one of the few ambulatory surgery centers in the country to post surgery prices online. Those prices only apply if you pay cash up front.
"We saw the writing on the wall. It's become a lot harder to get reimbursed for what you do," Hadlock said.
For people who are insured the premiums and out-of-expenses can quickly wipe out a bank account.
"Health insurance for anybody isn't a picnic. For the self-employed it's a nightmare," said small-business owner Ryon Thompson. He found he is better off paying cash for routine doctor visits and even surgery.
"When I found out about St. George Surgical Center, where it is one stop surgery, they have complete facilities up there, and it is cash and it is a fraction of the cost," Thompson said.
One of Thompson's employees is the one who actually needed the surgery. He tore an ACL playing soccer. The average cost of an ACL surgery is about $10,000 to $12,000. Eudenia Manzo's surgery only cost $6,335.
Manzo said he liked the medical staff and felt like he received quality care. "I feel 100 percent better. Everything is right."
Because the St. George Surgical Center doesn't have to worry about billing insurance or patients who don't pay they can charge 40 to 75 percent less than a hospital.
Hadlock said these savings are especially appealing to large companies that are self-insured and cover their employee's surgical costs.
"We had one just recently where the company actually paid not only for the whole procedure but they paid for all the travel expenses and everything for this particular patient so they could have it done here," he said.
For years, patients have traveled to places like India, Mexico and Costa Rica to save money on surgical procedures. The St. George Surgical Center is working toward making Dixie a destination spot for medical tourists or for people simply seeking affordable medical care.
"There are over a million people according to some reports looking to go on a medical vacation or seeking health care outside of the country," Hadlock said.
Most hospitals will offer a significant discount if patients are willing to pay cash up front, but they don't usually guarantee the price and some hospitals won't let patients pay cash if they have insurance.
