By Erin Collins • September 6, 2018
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to your healthcare. But with new improvements in medicine, technology and services – combined with having online reviews, ratings and health plan information right at your fingertips – it’s easier than ever to make decisions based on things that are important to you.
When it comes to choosing a care setting for your total joint replacement procedure, make sure you’re asking the right questions to get a comprehensive look at your overall experience. Here are three things to keep in mind as you research the joint replacement setting that fits your needs best.
1. How much will I pay?
First, consider your health insurance provider (i.e., BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, etc.). Your insurance provider determines the level of your overall costs based on whether or not a facility (and the affiliation of your unique provider in that facility) is “in-network” or “out-of-network.” If the facility is in-network, that means that they partner with your insurance provider and your costs will be lower. If the facility is out-of-network, that means that they don’t have a partnership with your provider and your costs will be higher. To check if a facility is in-network, all you have to do is call and ask if they accept your insurance provider and insurance plan.
It’s no secret that standard medical billing can come with unwelcome costs, too. An extra test here, or a different procedure code there can result in increased or additional fees – and when an unexpected issue pops up during an operation, costs can really spike.
A convenient way to know exactly what to expect with your medical costs is to find a facility that has a bundled payment agreement with your insurance provider. With a bundled payment model, the complete fee for your service is set ahead of time. Bundled payments establish one flat rate for an entire procedure, allowing you to compare provider value, stress less about unplanned services, and plan for your procedure well in advance.
Muve Health has bundled payment structures with many insurance providers, so you may be able to know the entire price for your procedure up front. And with technical efficiencies and process-driven procedures, you can be sure you’re getting a competitive, predictable cost when you become a Muve client.
| If you’re in the Austin area, call Muve Lakeway ASC at (512) 357-8220 to learn if your insurance plan participates with Muve under a bundled payment structure. |
2. Which facilities have the best experience with my condition?
While most hospitals are prepared to treat patients for almost any issue, their wide range of services can leave little room for specialty care. In the last few decades, standalone facilities who specialize in specific treatments and services, such as spine centers or oncological care, have taken precedence. These facilities have the ability to provide focused care for complex conditions and employ health professionals who are specifically trained in those designated areas. For example, the entire team at Muve Lakeway ASC - affiliated surgeons and clinical staff alike - solely focus on total joint replacement procedures. Dr. E. Matthew Heinrich and Dr. David Dodgin are fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons who are specialize in knee and hip replacements; on top of that, the entire ASC facility is specially designed for optimized total joint replacement results.
Although it may mean traveling farther for treatment, you deserve to be cared for by the best of the best. Do your homework and research which facilities have the most experience in your condition.
3. What will my experience be like?
Receiving a medical service – especially a total joint replacement – is no light matter. Fortunately, healthcare has come a far way from the days of overbooked offices and uncomfortably long care. Next to the caliber of your specialized treatment, comfortability staff friendliness, wait times, and convenience are now relevant and recognized factors in the quality of care you receive. And operations that were once strictly inpatient (requiring several-day hospital stays) are now being offered as outpatient services (in and out on the same day).
Muve Health goes even further to provide an elevated experience for total joint replacement recipients by delivering an end-to-end program that was created with empathy. When we designed our program, we put ourselves in the patient’s shoes and considered what would provide the most comfort, happiness and confidence during total joint replacement surgery and recovery. What resulted was a protocol-driven, safety-focused program of care that was designed to live in a new kind of setting - something completely different from a traditional hospital, or even a traditional ASC experience.
In the Muve ASC, your favorite music is played while you start your procedure, state-of-the-art technology creates efficient information gathering and personalized post-operative support has you up and walking within a few hours of surgery.* After you’re discharged from the ASC, you’ll have the option to register as a client in our Stay Suites - where you have catered meals, hotel-like accommodations for you and a guest, dedicated physical therapy, around-the-clock protective oversight, and a team who is dedicated to helping you learn how to best care for yourself when you head home.
Nowadays, it’s important to remember what’s important to you when you’re receiving medical care. When considering a medical facility for your next service or procedure, don’t forget to contemplate the total value of your overall experience.
Have a question about what other factors to consider when choosing a medical facility for your total joint replacement surgery? Visit muvehealth.com or call our flagship center, Muve Lakeway ASC and Muve Lakeway Stay Suites in Lakeway, Texas at (512) 357-8220 to get the answers you’re looking for and learn more about our innovative approach to total joint replacement care and recovery support.