Albany Surgery Associates, P.C.

In September 2011 I had a procedure done and the doctors and staff were wonderful. I was very pleased with the level of patient care and how attentive they were to me after the surgery.
I was told before the surgery that everything had been pre-​approved by MVP and that I would only have my out patient copay. Two months after the surgery I got a bill for 200 which I was told was additional items not covered by insurance. Then I got another bill for 175 for anesthesia which I was told was also not covered.
Then, in June of this year I get a 400.00 invoice where I’m told MVP has denied an additional portion of the claim. I spoke to the office and was told I could make monthly payments of 50.00 a month and that would be fine. Well I did that in June, and 20 days latter I get a collection letter demanding payment in full.
If your taking monthly payments on a bill why would you send it to collections? The woman at the agency said she would address this with the Albany Surgery Billing department that it should never have been sent to collections.
Bottom line, dont tell patients that proceedures are covered by insurance and then hit them wtih almost 1,000 in bills. And dont send out a bill to a patient a year later, then agree to take monthly payments and after the first payment send them to collections. Thats a horrible business practice.

Having surgery is a little like visiting the high priests of the physical body. Everybody has robes on, there are drugs, rituals and a special table that they strap your arms down like a crucifixion. There is lights and monitors an beep and the whole focus is on your problems.
In my case it was a hernia. I had strained bringing too much wood up the steps and felt a tear. It happens 25x more often in men, and it has to do with the development of our bits and pieces.
Dr. Haider Goussous gave me the slice. It would appear he did a great job. I’m healing well and while I have not taken the bandages off, it looks like a very clean job. He pioneered a mesh insert on the early 90’s for hernias and is apparently a leader in the industry.
He is not huge on the social part. Just prior to the surgery he said hi and that was about it. Not a lot of talking or connection, and I think most people want their high priest to speak with them a bit more. Make them feel comfortable. I had to have a ride home and my parents were there to do so. He never went outside to talk to them, or tell them it was done.
It’s pretty far out being tranquilized. They were chatting with me and then I was being shook post op. They whole thing was over in the blink of an eye. That evening was rough. Whatever they gave stopped up my system completely. Very bad news after. Let me ask you this: Why cant they give you something a little more recreational? You know something fun. These drugs are boring and have kind of bad side effects. What’s the point? Recovery drugs should be fun, especially if they have such bad side effects. Even the Lortabs they gave me just keep me from wanting to be too active. There not making music sound cooler or anything.
The support staff was great. The nurses were really nice know how to give care.
If you ever need surgery, I suggest the book «Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster» by Peggy Huddleston. It does a great job of mentally preparing you for what is about to happen and suggest some vitamins and other things to help. It comes with a relaxation CD that has been very useful to listen to each night. I’ve been healing remarkable fast. I asked several people to pray and think positive vibes about me, and I think it’s worked very well.