Salem Oncology Centre
6624 Fannin, Ste 1630
Houston, TX 77030
(713)796-1221
fax: (713)796-1281
salem@pasalem.com
Financial Information
Prior to the commencement of testing or treatment at Salem Oncology Centre, an estimate of the cost of services will be provided by our Business Office. We are not contracted with any insurance companies, including Medicare, therefore all insurance patients will be going “out of network” when they come to Salem Oncology Centre. Because we are not contracted with any insurance, a financial deposit for all estimated services is to be made prior to the start of testing and/or treatment. Your claims will be filed with your insurance carrier, instructing your insurance company to reimburse you directly. The agreement by your insurance company to pay for your medical care is a contract between you and your insurance company, the ultimate responsibility of paying your medical expenses rests with you. At the time of your initial visit, you will be requested to sign a statement in which you accept and acknowledge ultimate financial responsibility for your medical expenses.
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For American insurance patients, all testing will be billed directly by the testing facility to your insurance carrier. |
For International patients, all testing will be placed on your Salem Oncology Centre account and included in all estimates given.
Salem Oncology Centre does not accept Letters of Guarantee from any government agencies, embassies or third-party payers.
Why we do not accept insurance and third-party payers:Salem Oncology Centre is a highly sophisticated cancer treatment facility which is committed to providing the patient with the very best chance for cure. Insurance companies and third-party payers interfere with the delivery of medical care due to financial parameters. While the objective of our centre is to cure the patient, the objective of insurance and third-party payers is to minimize reimbursement. In diseases other than cancer, the difference between care which is insurance reimbursable and care which is independent of third-party payers could be the difference between excellence and poor quality, but in cancer, the difference could be between life and death. Our edge is that we provide both medicine and care far beyond standard norms to achieve cure. Therefore, we do not accept any restrictions or impediments to the delivery of the very best medical care. Accordingly, we do not accept insurance or third-party payers. |
A financial deposit sufficient to cover the estimated amount of services is required before testing or treatment can start. This estimate and deposit should be discussed with our Business Office, with the understanding that testing and/or treatment will not begin until such a deposit is made. Upon completion of testing and the finalization of all bills, any funds remaining on deposit with Salem Oncology Centre will be returned to the patient. As an example of a deposit of $25,000.00 is given, and the actual charges total $22,000.00, upon your departure from Salem Oncology Centre and after all services have been paid in full, $3,000.00 will be refunded to you in the same manner in which your deposit was made, e.g., if you paid with a credit card, we will credit your account.
Please note that funds deposited with Salem Oncology Centre will be used for our charges only. Fees for other providers, consultants, hospital admissions, prescriptions or other medical expenses are the responsibility of the patient.It is not the responsibility of Salem Oncology Centre to pay the medical bills of other providers or of hospitals.
Traveling?
If you are traveling to Salem Oncology Centre from out of the state or country, kindly contact our Business Office prior to your departure from home so financial arrangements may be made in advance of your arrival in Houston.
Questions regarding financial matters or insurance may be discussed with Carolyn Beshara Young, Business Officer, at 713-358-1644, 713-796-1221, or via e-mail at: cbyoung@pasalem.com
The following is for your information regarding financial estimates and financial planning relating to consultation, testing and treatment at Salem Oncology Centre. Please realize that we will welcome you as a patient and will guarantee that everything humanly possible will be done to give you the best medical advice and the best possible treatment. Before you come to Houston, we would like to advise you of the following:
| 1 | The initial consultation with Dr. Salem may cost between $600.00 - $1,200.00, depending on the time needed to give you the best advice. Our professional fee for Dr. Salem is approximately $600.00 per hour. | ||||||
| 2 | For Dr. Salem to make a definitive plan of treatment, you will be required to undergo laboratory, x-ray and pathology studies. The cost of these studies will be between $20,000.00 and $35,000.00, depending on the tests ordered. It is customary for this evaluation to be completed before Dr. Salem can design a definitive treatment plan for you. A deposit for the estimated amount of this evaluation must be made prior to the commencement of testing. | ||||||
| 3 | Once a treatment plan has been designed, expenses will depend on the exact type of treatment you will receive, whether treatment is surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of all three. Before your treatment is started, you will be given an estimate of expenses by our Business Office. | ||||||
| 4 | It is extremely difficult to estimate treatment expenses prior to the design of your specific treatment plan. Should you decide to receive treatment at Salem Oncology Centre in Houston, you should be prepared to make a second deposit, in addition to the $20,000.00 - $30,000.00 needed for your initial consult and evaluation prior to the start of treatment. These financial issues are to be discussed with Carolyn Beshara Young prior to your departure from home. It is difficult to give a more accurate estimate due to the variables involved, e.g., type of treatment, dosages, additional testing required during a cycle. | ||||||
| 5 | At any time during your stay with Salem Oncology Centre, our Business Office will be happy to provide you with a copy of your account, as well as to discuss any financial matters or concerns with you. | ||||||
| 6 | Your evaluation and treatment planning by Dr. Salem will take approximately one week. Should you decide to remain in Houston for chemotherapy, please plan on staying more than one month. | ||||||
| 7 | For your convenience, you may handle the payment of these funds in the following ways: (a) Wire transfer of funds from your bank to ours (b) Visa, MasterCard, American Express |
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| 8 | If you have any questions about Salem Oncology Centre’s financial policies, please do not hesitate to call the Business Office and speak with Carolyn Beshara Young. Our office hours are 9:00 A.M.- 6:00 P.M., Central Time Zone. | ||||||
| 9 | It is important to recognize that the Business Office is totally and completely independent of the Medical Department. Any and all issues relating to financial matters should be discussed with the Business Office and not with our physicians or nursing staff. | ||||||
| 10 | All professional fees, including physician fees, medication fees and other medical fees are decided by an Administrative Board of Directors and not by members of our Medical Staff. | ||||||
| 11 | Salem Oncology Centre fees are very competitive, although the time spent with patients is far beyond the norm. | ||||||
| 12 | If you prefer to discuss your questions about our policies in a language other than English, please contact the following Salem Oncology Centre staff members for assistance:
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