help

You have questions. wE have answers.

Thank you for choosing Alexandria Emergency Hospital for your emergency medical care! We understand that some patients find the billing process confusing or overwhelming, so we aim to make it simple and transparent. We want to help you understand your bill. Here are common topics discussed about billing and insurance.

If you need more assistance, please Contact the Patient Advocacy Department of Nutex Health at (713) 357-2535, Monday – Friday from 7:30 – 4:30 CST.

What is the Federal No Surprises Act?

To protect patients, the federal government issued the Federal No Surprises Act (NSA). The NSA addresses several different points. The most notable point is the NSA serves to prohibit surprise billing. A surprise medical bill is an unexpected bill, often for services received from a healthcare provider or facility, that a patient may not have known was out-of-network with their insurance until a bill is received. Simply stated, an out-of-network provider cannot send a bill to a patient for any amount outside of their yearly in-network deductible and co-insurance. This does not apply to amounts paid directly to patients by their insurance provider for services rendered rather than paid to the provider. In those cases, a patient may receive a bill for full charges until the insurance payment amount is provided or paid over to the appropriate facility by the patient.

The Federal No Surprises Act was issued after lawmakers passed a law to base emergency services payments on local median in-network rates, also known as QPAs, instead of usual and customary rates. The law enacted a system where insurers and providers negotiate the correct amount to be paid. Once in agreement, the bill can be settled through an independent dispute resolution process. Insurers must now disclose how they come to the QPA-median in-network price and if they down-coded the claim for any reason.

Where can I learn more about the No Surprises Act?

Learn more about the No Surprises Act at CMS.gov/nosurprises, or call the Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 for more information.

What if I have questions regarding a bill?

If you have any questions concerning your bill, please contact our Billing Department at 713-357-2535.

Alexandria Emergency Hospital’s Billing Policy

We accept all commercial insurance and cash, checks, and all major credit cards as forms of payment. At the time of your visit, your ER co-pay will be collected. Then, your insurance company will be sent two different claims: the facility bill and the physician bill.

If you have any questions concerning your bill, please contact our Billing Department at 713-357-2535.

Insurance Benefits

Alexandria Emergency Hospital does honors all in-network deductibles and accepts all commercial insurance. We do not accept any government-funded insurance plans, like Medicaid or Medicare. If you use health insurance during your visit, you will receive an EOB (explanation of benefits) from your insurance company in the mail. It is important to note that the EOB is not a bill.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a state-funded insurance program that gives covered employees income and medical benefits if they are injured at work. Louisiana employers may choose to provide their employees with this coverage and typically inform you whether or not you’re covered.

Are We In-Network?

No matter if your insurance is deemed out-of-network, the state law requires your insurance company to pay for all care deemed emergent. Here at Alexandria Emergency Hospital, we honor all in-network deductibles and benefits. However, under the state of Louisiana ordnance, the “prudent layperson” standard allows out-of-network patients to be charged at in-network rates for emergency care.

If your insurance provider is refusing to reimburse you for your emergency room visit, you can file a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI). For more information about this process and the Louisiana Department of Insurance visit http://www.ldi.la.gov/.