Miami Hernia Center

• Our goal is to be as transparent as possible. Please read the following pricing disclaimer

• Prices include surgeon's operating fee, anesthesia fee, facility fee and uncomplicated post-operative care. 

• There is an additional $300 initial consultation fee

• Quoted prices are for outpatient open primary (first occurrence)  inguinal, umbilical, ventral and epigastric hernias. Hernias that have come back after a previous surgery (recurrent hernias) or that appear over a previous incision for another type of surgery (incisional hernias) and all laparoscopic procedures have a different price. Come to our office for an evaluation

• Hernias that are extremely large or that may require inpatient admission, have a different price

• The quoted prices are for open surgery with or without mesh

• Final price will be determined after seeing patient in the office. The facility portion of the bill will be paid by the patient at the facility.

• Unusual circumstances and unforeseen complications may require hospitalization which would be associated with further expense and time. Expenses or fees resulting from complications subsequent to the completion of the surgery and discharge or transferred from the facility are also not included

• Many options are available for different types of hernias and all will be discussed with our patients including risks and benefits. Sometimes, a nonoperative approach will be recommended

• Lodging and travel expenses are not included in the price of the procedures

​

​

Other Important Notices:

​

PART 1 — Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate to Help You Understand Your Medical Costs

​

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don't have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital or facility fees.

Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or

call 1-800-985-3059.

​

PART 2 — Summary of the Florida Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

Required by Section 381.026, Florida Statutes

​

Florida law requires that your health care provider or health care facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care and that you respect the health care provider's or health care facility's right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of this law from your health care provider or health care facility. A summary of your rights and responsibilities follows:

Your rights

● A patient has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her individual dignity, and with protection of his or her need for privacy.

● A patient has the right to a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.

● A patient has the right to know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.

● A patient has the right to know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he or she does not speak English.

● A patient has the right to bring any person of his or her choosing to the patient-accessible areas of the health care facility or provider's office to accompany the patient while the patient is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or is consulting with his or her health care provider, unless doing so would risk the safety or health of the patient, other patients, or staff of the facility or office or cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility or provider.

● A patient has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.

● A patient has the right to be given by the health care provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.

● A patient has the right to refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.

● A patient has the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the

availability of known financial resources for his or her care.

● A patient who is eligible for Medicare has the right to know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.

● A patient has the right to receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.

● A patient has the right to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable, itemized bill and, upon request, to have the charges explained.

● A patient has the right to impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.

● A patient has the right to treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.

● A patient has the right to know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.

● A patient has the right to express grievances regarding any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or health care facility which served him or her and to the appropriate state licensing agency.

Your responsibilities

● A patient is responsible for providing to the health care provider, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his or her health.

● A patient is responsible for reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.

● A patient is responsible for reporting to the health care provider whether he or she comprehends a

contemplated course of action and what is expected of him or her.

● A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.

● A patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when he or she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the health care provider or health care facility.

● A patient is responsible for his or her actions if he or she refuses treatment or does not follow the health care provider's instructions.

● A patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his or her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

● A patient is responsible for following health care facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

​

​

HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED ANDHOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Our commitment and legal duties Rafael Azuaje, M.D., P.A. (“the Practice,” “we,” “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of your protected health information (“PHI”). We are required by law to: maintain the privacy and security of your PHI; notify you promptly if a breach occurs that compromises the privacy or security of your PHI; provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and

privacy practices; and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

How we may use and disclose your health information

For treatment. We use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, and manage your medical care. For example, we may share information with an anesthesiologist, an ambulatory surgery center, a pathologist, or your primary care physician who is involved in your care.

For payment. We use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for the services we provide. For example, at your request we may provide records to your insurer so that you can seek out-of-network reimbursement, or bill the responsible party on your account.

For health care operations. We use and disclose your PHI to run the Practice and to improve the quality of care. For example, we may use it for internal review, quality assessment, and administrative purposes.

Appointment reminders and treatment options. We may contact you to remind you of appointments or to tell you about or recommend treatment options and health-related services.

Persons involved in your care. Unless you object, we may share PHI relevant to your care with a family member, friend, or other person you identify as involved in your care or payment for your care.

Uses and disclosures that do not require your authorization

We may use or disclose your PHI without your authorization in the following circumstances, to the extent permitted by law:

● As required by federal, state, or local law.

● For public health activities, such as preventing or controlling disease, reporting births and deaths, reporting reactions to medications or product problems, and notifying persons of product recalls or possible exposure to a disease.

● To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, as permitted or required by law.

● For health oversight activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure.

● For judicial and administrative proceedings, such as in response to a court or administrative order, or a subpoena

or discovery request where required assurances are provided.

● For law enforcement purposes as permitted by law.

● To avert a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or the public.

● To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.

● For workers' compensation or similar programs for work-related injuries or illness.

● For specialized government functions, including military and veterans' activities, national security and intelligence activities, and correctional institutions if you are an inmate.

● For research, only when approved through the applicable review process or when the information has been de-identified.

Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization

Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization. In particular, the following require your authorization: most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes (if any); uses and disclosures for marketing purposes; and disclosures that constitute a sale of your PHI. You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.RAFAEL AZUAJE, M.D., P.A.

MIAMI HERNIA CENTER

2999 NE 191st Street, Suite 340, Aventura, Florida 33180 | 305-510-4655 | fax: 786-923-0981

Your rights regarding your health information

Right to inspect and copy. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical and billing records, including an electronic copy if we maintain the records electronically. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

Right to request an amendment. If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend it for as long as we keep the information.

Right to an accounting of disclosures. You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we made of your PHI, other than for treatment, payment, or health care operations.

Right to request restrictions. You may ask us to restrict how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree, except in one case: if you pay for a service or item in full, out of pocket, you have the right to require that we not disclose PHI about that service or item to your health plan for purposes of payment or health care operations, and we will honor that request.

Right to request confidential communications. You have the right to ask that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location — for example, only by mail or only at a particular phone number. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to a paper copy of this Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Right to be notified of a breach. You have the right to be notified if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.

Changes to this Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have as well as any information we receive in the future. The current Notice will be posted in our office and is available on request. Each Notice shows its effective date.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Privacy Officer: Dr. Rafael Azuaje — Rafael Azuaje, M.D., P.A., 2999 NE 191st Street, Suite 340, Aventura, Florida

33180. Telephone: 305-510-4655.

Effective Date: July 7, 2026.