Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why does a hospital ER visit for an orthopedic injury cost more than DOC?

 

Most emergency room prices are inflated based on the rates at which insurance companies will reimburse a hospital on a patient’s behalf (That’s why a single aspirin could cost as much as $30). In addition, hospitals and their outpatient clinics, such as St. Lukes and Saint Alphonsus, are allowed by law to charge a ‘facility’ fee. This fee, which ranges with local hospitals from $150-$400 per visit, is added to already higher treatment fees. This causes ER visits to cost significantly more than out-patient orthopedic treatment like DOC provides. Plus, with DOC, you’ll be treated by an orthopedic specialist.

Cost Comparison

*Prices reflect average costs associated with actual emergency room visits to St. Lukes Regional Medical Center and Saint Alphonsus Medical Center for the same procedure treated by DOC (procedure costs - x-rays, splint, and facility fee). The prices reflect cost after contractual adjustment taken by a major insurance company.
 
 

How much money can I save with a visit to DOC vs. the hospital ER?

 

Each patient’s visit to a hospital ER is unique.  And with such, each patient’s bill will vary.  However, here is a typical pricing comparisons with 2 local Treasure Valley hospitals, Saint Alphonsus and St. Lukes versus the same procedure by DOC:

Procedure: X-rays, Splint, Facility Fee

  • Saint Alphonsus Medical Center: $1921.70

  • St. Lukes Regional Medical Center: $1640.00

  • DOC: $504.00 (a savings of nearly 70%)

Note: Hospital Emergency Room Facility Fees can range into the thousands depending upon the procedure.

 

How much time can I save having DOC treat my injury vs. a hospital ER?

 
 

When you compare DOC with St. Lukes and Saint Alphonsus average treatment time, DOC is by far the quickest and most efficient orthopedic care provider:

According to Hospital Stats.org, the average overall visit time for a non-critical ER patient at St. Luke’s is estimated to be 2:16. For Saint Alphonsus the overall visit time for non-critical ER patients is 2:11.

Patient Wait Times

 
 

Will you bill my health insurance?

 

Yes. At DOC we will bill all insurances and we are in-network with most major insurances including Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Select Health, United Heathcare and many more! Although, it is always best to contact your insurance company to check if we are in-network. 

 
 

Will DOC make payment arrangements for my balance?

 

Yes, at DOC we understand life happens and we are more than willing to make payment arrangements on your balance with us. You can set up payment arrangements by contacting our billing department at (208) 321-4000, option 3. 

 

Does DOC require a referral to see me?

 
 

DOC does not require a referral to see you, but your insurance may require you to obtain a referral from your PCP before being seen

 
 

What is the difference between the contractual rate and billed rate?

 

Each insurance company negotiates a different contractual rate with the providers' offices. These rates change every year. Our office uses a standard billed rate for all patient claims and lets the insurance company reduce the amount to what was negotiated. We do this because each insurance company pays a different amount for each code. Additionally, it is illegal to have a different billed rate for each insurance company so our billed rate is higher than the contractual rate so it includes all contractual rates of every insurance company.