Coming from US to have surgery ... do you need a passport?

I don't have a passport and in the last 24hrs I've decided I'm DEF coming to have surgery with Dr. Kelly. Now I'm thinking ... do I need a Passport? I don't have one...

Just to get back in to the USA from what I am reading.  I have one already, have been on a few vacations over the last few years. 

You have to have a passport upon return to the States.. You will need to apply for one and put a rush on it.. I don't know how long it takes to rush or how much but normal takes about 5 weeks..

Angela

 My husband and I went in May to Mexico for my surgery.  We applied for a passcard 5 days before my surgery.  Still went to have surgery took birth certificate copy, receipt from where we applied for passcard and our drivers license and had no problem getting back across

I'm in Vegas and my mom is back home in Ohio. I am going to apply for my passport in the morning. I will have my mom apply for the passcard because this will probably be the only time she ever uses it. lol I don't want to add 5 weeks onto my surgery wait time just because of the passport. I want to do it the 3rd week in Aug because my daughter starts the 8th grade Aug 29th so I HAVE to be back for that. :-)