Are we being taken advantage in USA hospitals?!
Question: Are we being taken advantage in USA hospitals?
Our insurance Company was contacted by the hospital to get permissin to do a "Cat Scan" on this persons head. The result was a Scan on the head, neck and spine along with Xrays on the head and chest. Although this person was asked at least 3 times if they were on DRUGS (which was denied) they went ahead with 7 different test for all sorts of DRUGS and 1 test for blood Alchohol!
After less than 24 hours in the hospital the bill came to a total of $14000.00 which included a $$1200.00 ambulance ride! Is it normal proceedure to do all this testing or are we being Ripped Off?
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Robert, don't take no shuck-and-jive from other answerers. You all were ripped off, plain and simple. This is routine in the USA which is hopelessly bankrupt because the government does nothing to control medical-care costs.
If you were living in the UK the bill would be $0.00, Americans pay a very high price for low taxation.
The drug tests they did may have been for levels of drugs that they take for chronic illnesses. For example if they take the heart drug, Lanoxin they would do a drug level for the Lanoxin. Too high a level of a drug like this could make you dizzy and very sick. Or it could make your heart rate very slow. That is just an example. They also will do drug levels for seizure medicines, thyroid medicines, etc. So if your family member is normally on any medicines this is probably why they did those tests. This doesn't mean they were testing for illegal drugs. Considering your family member had a complete blood work up, a CAT Scan, xrays, and Emergency Room care this bill is about what you would expect. The Ambulance bill seems a little high but if they started IV's in the ambulance or oxygen, then it would raise the price of the ambulance ride to the hospital. You are also paying for the specialized care given by the EMT's and Paramedic in the Ambulance.
Update:
I don't understand why they would have tested for illegal drugs. I would definitely ask for a transcript of the visit to be sent to my doctor at home. If they won't give it to you your doctor can get a copy of it easily. I've worked in the Emergency Room for years and we've never done anything like that. The most we test for is usually drug levels like I told you about. We will check for illegal drugs if a person comes in unconscious and we suspect an overdose but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I would definitely get a copy of those records and go over them with your doctor. Something doesn't seem right. Good luck to you. If you had come to my Emergency room this wouldn't have happened I promise.
I'm a Nurse.