Surgery

Eye Care Specialists is proud to offer services of a certified Ambulatory Surgery Center. Our surgery center is staffed with highly trained surgeons, as well as a highly experienced nursing staff. Our surgeons are board certified. We also offer the services of a trained corneal specialist.

Above all else we pride ourselves in patient care. Eye Care Specialists is committed to the highest safety standards and quality of care. Our staff provides patient education services, as well as community education services. We further provide efficient and cost effective services, with specialized surgical care focusing solely on ophthalmology.

Getting Ready for Surgery & What To Bring

Each surgical procedure will be handled on a case by case basis, and our surgical staff will review details with you several days prior to surgery. Below are just a few common ways to prepare for a procedure at our surgery center.

If you have any changes in your health condition before surgery, please notify the surgeon.
You will need to have a driver for discharge. You should arrange in advance for someone to stay with you for 24 hours after surgery.
Clear liquid diet up to two hours prior to arrival time:
Water (plain, carbonated or flavored), fruit juices without pulp, such as apple or white grape juice, fruit-flavored beverages, such as fruit punch or lemonade, carbonated drinks, including dark sodas (cola and root beer), Gelatin. Tea or coffee without milk or cream, strained tomato or vegetable juice, sports drinks, fat-free broth (bouillon), honey or sugar, hard candy -such as lemon drops or peppermint rounds. Popsicles.
Solids up to 6 hours before appointment time we encourage a light meal for example eggs and toast.
Wear loose comfortable clothing.
Do not bring any valuables, you will have a locker for personal items and any electronic devices, but we encourage you to bring as little as possible.
Bring a photo ID and your insurance card.

After Surgery

The type of anesthesia you are given determines your time in post op/recovery before being discharged. You will have a registered nurse assigned to you the whole time you are recovering. Before being discharged, your surgeon will personally evaluate you.

Home care instructions are given to you prior to your surgery. These will be reviewed with you and you will receive a written copy of the instructions.
Every surgery is followed up personally by your physician.
All surgeries are seen within the first 24 hours for a post-op examination. Be prepared to come back in to our clinic the next morning.
Because our surgeons are local and practice in the same location of your surgical procedure, you can expect personalized care with the same doctor throughout the entire process.

Some of the surgery options we provide:

Dropless small incision bi manual Cataract surgery
Glaucoma treatment – Istent, OMNI Medical SLT laser and ECP
Laser surgery for diabetes and retinal tears
Macular Degeneration Treatment
Medical and Cosmetic Botox and Blepharoplasty
Trained Corneal Specialist
Visian ICL
Evo ICL

View Eye Care Specialists Surgeon Performing Cataract Surgery
Note: Videos contain graphic imagery of surgical procedures.

Know your rights under the Balance Billing Protection Act

Beginning January 1, 2020, Washington state law protects you from 'surprise billing' or 'balance billing' if you receive emergency care or are treated at an in-network hospital or outpatient surgical facility

What is 'surprise billing' or 'balance billing' and when does it happen?

Under your health plan, you're responsible for certain cost-sharing amounts. This includes copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. You may have additional costs or be responsible for the entire bill if you see a provider or go to a facility that is not in your plan's provider network.

Some providers and facilities have not signed a contract with your insurer. They are called 'out-ofnetwork' providers or facilities. They can bill you the difference between what your insurer pays and the amount the provider or facility bills. This is called 'surprise billing' or 'balance billing.'

Insurers are required to tell you, via their websites or on request, which providers, hospitals and facilities are in their networks. And hospitals, surgical facilities and providers must tell you which provider networks they participate in on their website or on request.

When you CANNOT be balance billed:

Emergency Services

The most you can be billed for emergency services is your plan's in-network cost-sharing amount even if you receive services at an out-of-network hospital in Washington, Oregon or Idaho or from an out-of-network provider that works at the hospital. The provider and facility cannot balance bill you for emergency services.

Certain services at an In-Network Hospital or Outpatient Surgical Facility

When you receive surgery, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, or hospitalist services from an out-of-network provider while you are at an in-network hospital or outpatient surgical facility, the most you can be billed is your in-network cost-sharing amount. These providers cannot balance bill you.

In situations when balance billing is not allowed, the following protections also apply:

Your insurer will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly. You are only responsible for paying your in-network cost-sharing.
Your insurer must:
- Base your cost-sharing responsibility on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility in your area and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
- Count any amount you pay for emergency services or certain out-of-network services (described above) toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
Your provider, hospital, or facility must refund any amount you overpay within 30 business days.
A provider, hospital, or outpatient surgical facility cannot ask you to limit or give up these rights.

If you receive services from an out-of-network provider, hospital or facility in any OTHER situation, you may still be balance billed, or you may be responsible for the entire bill.

This law does not apply to all health plans. If you get your health insurance from your employer, the law might not protect you. Be sure to check your plan documents or contact your insurer for more information.

If you believe you've been wrongly billed, file a complaint with the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner at www.insurance.wa.gov or call 1-800-562-6900.

List of in-network insurance companies the ECS Surgery Center participates with:

Medicare/Railroad Medicare
Regence Blue Shield of Idaho
Blue Cross of Idaho
Premera Blue Cross
Federal Blue Cross
Asuris
Idaho Medicaid
Idaho State Insurance Fund
Washington Medicaid (Apple Health - Qualified Health Plans)
Humana - NO Humana Medicare – HMO
First Choice Health Network
Some United Healthcare Plans - NO HMO
Community Health Plan
Coordinated Care/Envolve
IPN - Great West
Molina Healthcare
Triwest
Washington L&I
Aetna
Optum Procura
Tricare – PRIME REQUIRES REFERRALS
AARP Medicare Advantage – NO HMO
Cigna

We don't accept or contract with ANY Routine Vision Plan i.e. VSP, Cole, Spectra, Davis
No Multi-Plan
Kaiser - Group Health - only though First Choice Health Network

Providing the Good Faith Estimate

Health and Human Services Form (PDF)