COVID-19 Testing
Our emergency facilities currently offer COVID-19 testing for patients who present with certain risk factors and symptoms. Testing is done on symptomatic patients in conjunction with an emergency room visit. Healthy, asymptomatic, “worried well” individuals should consider other options.
Our in-house rapid antigen test is charged at $200. As a symptomatic patient, you will also be charged an ER visit. Total charges for an ER visit vary depending on the level of patient illness, intensity of medical needs, and the resources required to render care. We also offer an extensive molecular testing panel that includes COVID-19 as one of 20+ respiratory testing targets. This comprehensive respiratory panel tests for a variety of viral and bacterial conditions which are charged together as a single service. The accuracy, complexity, and expense of the molecular respiratory panel warrants a charge of $2501-$2888. Our third COVID-19 testing option is a send-out PCR test for COVID-19 only. The sample is collected by our staff during the patient visit and processed by outside laboratories. These outside laboratories set their own prices and bill separately for their services. Most laboratories price the COVID-19 test from $200 to $300. Again, regardless of the type of COVID-19 test provided, total charges will include an ER visit and will vary depending on the patient’s individual medical needs and services rendered.
Our emergency facilities offer cash-pay case rates designed for uninsured patients. These patients often qualify for different levels of financial assistance depending on their unique financial situation. Out-of-pocket costs vary depending on the emergency services provided in conjunction with the visit. Most uninsured patients presenting for COVID-19 testing and treatment should expect to pay a few hundred dollars after financial assistance has been applied. As always, we offer full disclosure of individualized out-of-pocket costs based on the emergency services provided during your visit.
Public Health Service Act 2799B-3
Patient Protections Against Surprise Billing
The Public Health Service Act, amended in 2021 with an effective date of January 1, 2022 requires health care providers and facilities to post a notice of the following:
You are protected from balance billing for:
- Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and receive emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for emergency services. This includes services you may receive after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
- Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you receive services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers cannot balance bill you or ask you to give up protections not to be balance billed.
If you receive other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
- You are only responsible for paying your share of the costs (copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles) that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network.
- Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
Your health plan generally must:
- Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
- Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
- Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
- Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
To read the full disclosure, click here. If you believe you have been wrongly billed, please contact Complete Care’s billing team at 817‐421‐0012 or the Federal No Surprises Helpdesk at 800‐985‐3059.
Texas Senate Bill 425
Senate Bill 425, passed by the Texas Legislature during the 84th Regular Session, requires all FECs to post notice of the following:
- This is a Freestanding Emergency Medical Care Facility
- This facility charges rates comparable to a hospital Emergency Room and may charge a facility fee
- This facility or physician providing medical care at this facility may not be a participating provider in your Health Benefit Plan provider network
- A physician providing medical care at this facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care provided to you
Texas House Bill 3276
- If we are not in-network with your particular health plan, Federal law requires insurance companies to process your ER visit at the in-network benefit level.
- We are not yet recognized by Medicaid. If you would like to assist us in being able to accept these insurance plans, please contact your legislators.
Texas House Bill 2041
House Bill 2041, passed by the Texas Legislature during the 86th Regular Session, requires all FECs to post notice of the following:
- This facility is a Freestanding Emergency Medical Care Facility.
- This facility charges rates comparable to a hospital Emergency Room and may charge a facility fee.
- The facility or physician providing medical care at this facility may be an out of network provider for the patient health benefit plan provider network. This facility is a participating provider with America’s Choice Network, BCBS of Texas, First Health, HealthRisk Resource Group, Multiplan, and United Healthcare.
- A physician providing medical care at this facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care provided to the patient.
Notices to our Patients
HIPAA – Notice of Privacy Practices – English