What an Anaesthetic Account Consists of

What an Anaesthetic Account Consists of

An Anaesthetic Account is made up of 4 Parts consisting of Time Factors and Risk Modifiers:

The preoperative preparation:

It may be called premed or pre-op assessment in your account. This is a basic consultation where the Anaesthetist does the preparation of the anaesthetic part of the theatre (, making sure of your medical history, checking your anaesthetic form you have completed for any medical conditions and allergies, preparing drugs checking equipment and monitors).
Your admission process may take a little longer than expected and therefore does not allow the Anaesthetist sufficient time to assess you prior to the operation in the ward, as the theatre list would have started.   This is why in these cases the Anaesthetist will only see you in the theatre reception area.

The type and complexity of the operation:

This is a modifier for the surgical complexity. The complexity of an anaesthetic for a fractured radius is less than that of a fractured hip or open-heart surgery and is charged accordingly.

Anaesthetic time:

You are charged for every minute that you are under the care of the anaesthesiologist. This is because your anaesthetist is monitoring you continuously throughout the procedure.

Other modifiers:

Additional procedures performed, techniques, and risks are charged for, depending on the patients’ health status or type of operation. These risk modifiers include obesity (Body Mass Index >35kg/m2), bone and joint surgery, very young (<1yr) or old (>70yrs) patients, ICU admission, pain control procedures, strange operating positions, and deliberate control of blood pressure. An emergency procedure will incur a charge for a set of emergency modifiers as this increases the risks and skills needed to perform the anaesthetic.

  • All the time and risk modifiers are allocated specific unit values and each unit is then given a Rand value. These values are added together to determine the final anaesthetic cost.
  • Per the Competition Commission ruling of 2004, all the Anaesthesiologists in the Venter Anaesthetic Practice must determine their fees and rates independently.   Likewise, every medical aid determines the rate at which they are prepared to re-imburse Practitioners. The concept of a “medical aid rate” no longer exists.
  • Your medical aid pays you out at the rate they unilaterally determine according to the plan you take with them which may be vastly different to the rate determined by the Anaesthesiologist. Be aware that your medical aid/funder may call this “the 100% rate” but this refers ONLY to their rates.
  • Additionally, every anaesthetic account must include VAT, as the government decided that healthcare is a value-added item and they have added 15% to each account.
  • To get a detailed quote, please phone our offices on 012 341 9712. The following are important points to note about the quotation:
    • It is impossible to predict how long a procedure will take, this makes estimating the cost of an anaesthetic extremely difficult. An estimated quote is therefore based on the average time taken for a procedure and assumes the procedure is of average complexity.
    • If the procedure takes longer than the estimated time the cost will increase according to the duration of the procedure.
    • It is your responsibility as the patient to find out from your medical aid/funder how much of the account they will pay.
  • You will receive a separate account from the Anaesthesiologist. There will also be other accounts from the surgeon, radiologists, physiotherapist, pharmacist, and hospital.
  • Further explanations of the codes on anaesthetic accounts can be obtained from The Board of Health Funders (011 537 0200).
  • The Anaesthesiologist does not deal with your medical aid regarding account payment. You are responsible for settling the anaesthetic account with the Anaesthesiologist and claiming from your medical aid.
  • An account may be sent to your medical aid to help with your claim, but you are still responsible for the payment of your anaesthetic account to your Anaesthesiologist. Interest and Legal Fees are applicable to any accounts that are not paid in full within 60 days.