Central Florida Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles of the Villages
Related Articles
Sage Infusion’s Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder Matt Clements is passionate about saving money. As the CFO, Matt’s job is to protect the company’s bottom line. But as a Type 1 Diabetic, Matt has a passion for helping others living with chronic conditions use their healthcare dollars wisely.
“Having a chronic illness means constantly worrying about the cost of your medications, supplies and procedures,” states Matt. “I’ve learned that people truly have to shop for their health care needs the same way they shop for any other item or service. As a patient, you have the right to ASK your health care provider for the price and understand the cost before receiving the service.
“Take my mom for example, she needed a hip replacement and has Medicare insurance. Being her advocate, I encouraged her to ask her doctor for the cost of procedure. To her surprise, she went to several appointments ahead of the surgery and no one could answer her question, “HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?”
As a patient, at every appointment, you should ask how much the procedure, the drug, or the device your provider recommends will cost. Unfortunately, many patients incorrectly assume prices are the same among health care providers – especially if providers are covered under their insurance. This is not the case. Like items we can buy at multiple stores, health care providers each charge their own prices. If you select a health care service from a higher costing provider, your out-of-pocket cost will be higher. Eventually, choosing higher priced services leads to higher annual insurance premiums. Over the last 10 years, average insurance premiums have increased 40%+.
“I wanted to know the price of the hip replacement so I could ensure my mom was getting the best price for her procedure. Of course, quality of care is also a key consideration. The key is to ensure both quality and price are appropriate. This is where my passion to inform patients about health care prices started and why providing up-front pricing for patients at Sage Infusion is so important to me.”
Sage Infusion has no allegiance to any one hospital, provider, healthcare system or insurance entity and works in the best interests of patients. At Sage Infusion, every patient is promised Up Front Pricing, The Lowest Cost, No Extra Charges, and Patient Assistance Support services. An individualized cost estimate is provided before your appointment (see example), so no costs are hidden. The estimate is designed to be a simple-to-read printout of what is being billed to your insurance and what you will be responsible for BEFORE you sit down for an infusion treatment. If you need financial assistance to help with the cost, Sage specialists will work on your behalf to see if supplemental support is available.
Let’s look at the drug Remicade for example. Remicade treats Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Plaque Psoriasis. Remicade is administered as an infusion and each hospital and infusion center charge their patients a different fee for the same medication – just like any business. The difference being, in business prices are provided up-front to customers. In health care, prices are most often hidden.
Sage Infusion uses pricing software specifically developed to provide prices for patients before treatment. WHY? Because financial health is part of your overall health. Matt believes the more patients have access to health care prices the better they can manage their own personal health.
If you are currently on or considering an infusion treatment, please contact Sage Infusion and let our team provide you with our price as a helpful service on your health care journey. Remember, the key is to ensure both quality of care and price are appropriate.
Sage Infusion Can Help
At Sage Infusion, we provide expert patient-centered infusion care in a contemporary boutique environment. Sage Infusion eases your medical burdens by handling the care coordination process, including insurance authorization and patient progress updates. Our flexible scheduling meets our patient’s needs with extended hours. Day, night, and weekend appointments are available. Our physician assistants and nurse practitioners follow the National Infusion Center Association guidelines and our proprietary clinical protocols. Sage Infusion offers a variety of comforting amenities, and patients can choose to receive treatment in the open lounge or private room.
With locations in The Villages – Lake Sumter, Fort Myers, Clearwater, Orlando, Sarasota, and Tampa. Sage Infusion offers the best infusion and administration facilities in the Sunshine State. At Sage Infusion, we’ve reimagined patient care. From a quick start, to upfront pricing and financial assistance to compassionate care by our clinical experts in a serene environment, you will experience the highest quality infusion care at the most affordable cost.
352-565-5553
sageinfusion.com/swwellness
910 Old Camp Road, Suite 196, The Villages, FL 32162
