Pricing
The most accurate way to determine costs is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fred Arnold to discuss your individual condition and the specific treatment(s) that will be provided, as this varies greatly patient to patient.
The initial visit is usually the most detailed and longest appointment for Dr. Fred Arnold may perform a detailed consultation, examination and review of previous records. If you would like your previous records (MRI’s, x-rays, reports) reviewed, it is recommended you send these before your initial appointment. Follow-up visits are usually less than the initial appointment.
Initial New Patient Office Visit
$120 – $355, without treatment
$270 - $525, with treatment
Established Patient Visit
$225 - $575, includes treatment and office visit
Although, we cannot provide an exact price for each treatment, we can usually provide an approximate range for initial and follow-up appointments. Pricing will depend upon the time, complexity of the condition the type of Regenerative Medicine Procedure and number of different areas treated (shoulder, neck, knee, low back, etc.). A determining factor as to type and amount of treatment provided is dependent upon the physical examination findings performed by Dr. Arnold, severity of each condition and review of diagnostic tests (x-rays, MRI’s, etc.).
Payment Policy
We respectfully request that patients pay in full at the time of service. Our office accepts major credit cards, debit cards, personal checks or cash.
Cost of Prolotherapy vs. Surgery
While Regenerative Medicine and Pain Rehabilitation procedures may not be reimbursed by some insurances, it does not mean that it will necessarily cost you more out of pocket than a surgical procedure. For example, a typical knee replacement surgery cost may $45,000 – 70,000 for patients without insurance. Also, patients with insurance usually have to incur an out of pocket deductible that may be in the thousands. Even Medicare patients are expected to have an average out of pocket expense for knee replacement of around $4,500.
There are of course other additional costs associated with surgeries such as the need to install extra railings and handles in your home during your recovery period. You may even have lost wages due to the extended recovery period. Regenerative Medicine and Pain Rehabilitation procedures do not require an extended period of recovery or physical therapy to regain movement.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you can always get surgery after any Regenerative Medicine and Pain Rehabilitation procedure. In fact, some conditions respond better to surgery if the patient had Regenerative Medicine first, for the area has been “built up” with new and stronger tissue (ligaments, tendons and cartilage). After surgery, Regenerative Medicine and Pain Rehabilitation procedure benefits may be more limited since the surgical area has structurally altered with removal of tissues such as with arthroscopic procedures or spinal surgical procedures.
Insurance Coverage
Many insurance companies do not offer any insurance reimbursement and consider Regenerative Medicine Procedures experimental or investigational. However, some insurance companies may partially cover for out-of-network services.
Our office will provide each patient with a detailed statement that can be submitted to their insurance company. Should the insurance company send payment to our office, the payment will be promptly sent to the patient. We will do our best at helping you get the best reimbursement possible. The best way for each patient to determine the amount of insurance is to individually contact their individual insurance carrier.
Health Savings Account
Another way to pay for you Regenerative Medicine and health care services is with a health savings account. A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). The funds contributed to an account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. Unlike a flexible spending account (FSA), funds roll over and accumulate year to year if not spent.
Medicare/Medicaid
Regenerative Medicine and Pain Rehabilitation Procedures are not a covered service under Medicare or insurance plans, and physicians are therefore not allowed to bill insurance companies for these procedures. Dr. Fred Arnold does not participate in Medicare or Medicaid. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, you must sign a waiver acknowledging that these services will not be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Laboratory Services
With the exception of Medicare, it has been our experience that most insurance companies cover laboratory (serum or blood) testing. We will provide you with a requisition to perform laboratory services at the laboratory of your choice, i.e, Lab Corp, Patient’s Choice, etc. If you do not have insurance coverage, we have made arrangements with different laboratory companies to provide each patient with the lowest cash prices possible.
We encourage each patient to check with their insurance company before proceeding with testing.
Please feel free to discuss any billing issues with our Office Manager during regular business hours.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 602-292-2978.