At Somnia Specialist Anaesthesia, our top priority is providing exceptional medical care to our patients. We believe in being transparent about our billing policies to ensure that our patients have a clear understanding of our fees and any potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Our fees may occasionally exceed those set by medical aid schemes due to factors such as the complexity and duration of the procedure, as well as the expertise required from our anaesthesiologists. If your medical aid scheme does not cover the full cost of our fees, you will be responsible for the balance, which we accept payment for by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). If you have GAP cover, please inform us.
We have contracts with selected medical schemes and exceptions, which include patients over the age of 65 who are pensioners, patients with PMB conditions, Joint care/Major joints for Life patients having a hip or knee replacement, and all Discovery plans when the procedure is done at a day hospital. If you have concerns about your ability to pay for our services, please contact our billing department at admin@somnia.co.za. We comply with all relevant laws and regulations governing medical billing and coding, including fee transparency and disclosure. We will provide you with an itemised bill that outlines the services we provided and the fees we charged.
Please note that all private patients will receive a quote before the service, and full settlement is required before the procedure. This is a quote, and the final amount invoiced may be more, in which case you will be invoiced, or less, in which case you will be refunded.
We do not claim directly from health insurance companies, as they differ from medical aid schemes and are underwritten by insurance providers not regulated by the Council for Medical Schemes. These patients will be managed as private patients, and we will provide the necessary invoices to claim back from your insurance. If you have any questions or concerns about our billing policies, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to assist our patients in any way possible.
All plans are charged at Discovery Classic rates, except for the plans listed below, where the applicable scheme rates or contracted rates will be charged. If your medical aid is not listed below, you will have a shortfall between the fees we levy and what your medical aid will pay. The total account balance remains the responsibility of the main member.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are minimally invasive procedures used to interrupt pain signals from specific nerves, providing relief from acute or chronic pain conditions. These injections can help diagnose the source of pain and ojer long-term pain management solutions.
How Nerve Blocks Work
1. A local anaesthetic is applied to numb the injection site.
2. Using fluoroscopy (X-ray) or ultrasound guidance, a thin needle is positioned near the targeted nerve.
3. A combination of local anaesthetic and steroids is injected to block pain signals and reduce inflammation.
4. Patients may experience immediate relief, with ejects lasting from weeks to months.
Conditions Treated
• Sciatica and radicular pain
• Chronic neck and back pain
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Post-surgical nerve pain
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Migraine and headache syndromes
Genicular Nerve Block
Genicular nerve blocks are a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve chronic knee pain, particularly for patients with osteoarthritis or post-surgical knee pain.
How Genicular Nerve Block Works
1. The skin around the knee is numbed with a local anaesthetic.
2. A thin needle is guided near the genicular nerves using fluoroscopic imaging. 3. A mixture of local anaesthetic and steroids is injected to block pain signals. 4. If pain relief is significant, radiofrequency neurotomy may be performed for longer lasting results.
Conditions Treated
• Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis
• Persistent post-surgical knee pain
• Failed knee replacements
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