Frequently Asked Questions

HCDD is available to cover San Antonio and the surrounding hill country, from San Marcos to Kerrville. If you are outside of these areas, please contact us and we will make our best effort to provide services to your facility or assist in finding services available to you. 

FEES can be completed on any patient with signs or symptoms of dysphagia without known nasal obstructions, facial fractures, or severe nose bleeds. FEES can be completed on patients with feeding tubes, trach/vent needs, dementia, medical complexity, and patients on isolation precautions. 

 Yes! Patients may experience mild discomfort during passage of the scope, but overall, patients tolerate the procedure extremely well! 

Please contact us via email or phone and we will set up a meeting with you and your facility Director to complete a signed contractual agreement.

 No. Unless otherwise discussed prior to procedure, the facility’s SLP will provide the liquids and solids they would like to be trialed during FEES. Medications can also be assessed during FEES.  

This procedure is considered a speech-language pathology service. All therapy services fall under the Consolidated Billing rules as of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The facility will be responsible for payment to Hill Country Dysphagia Diagnostics directly for the procedure per CMS guidelines.  The facility then bills the patient's insurance for reimbursement. Additionally, if HCDD is unable to view the patient’s vocal folds, the facility will not be charged for the procedure.