Treatment of a common cold cost an American $ 28 thousand

After Alexa Kasdan had a sore throat for more than a week, she went to her doctor. The doctor sent a throat swab and a blood test to an off-line laboratory for complex DNA tests. The patient later received a staggering $ 28 bill. About how this could happen, the newspaper writes. NPR.

Фото: Depositphotos

Going to the doctor

Brooklyn, NY, a 40-year-old public policy consultant, did not want her upcoming vacation to spoil strep throat. So a week after the sore throat continued, Alexa Kasdan decided to check it out.

The woman visited her physician, Roya Fathollahi, in Manhattan, not far from Park Avenue and Gramercy Park. The visit was quick. They took a swab from Kassdan from the throat, collected a test tube with blood and issued a prescription for antibiotics.

Soon she felt better, and the trip went well.

Then came the bill

Alexa Kasdan is insured by Minnesota Blue Cross and Blue Shield through her partner’s employer.

The total bill she received for visiting the doctor was $ 28. Her insurer wrote a check for $ 395,50.

It is worth explaining that Dr. Roya Fathollahi of Manhattan Specialty Care conducted laboratory tests to study potential bacteria and viruses that could be associated with Kasdan cough and sore throat.

When Kasdan returned from a trip abroad, she saw several messages on the phone and an email from the billing department in Dr. Fathollahi's office.

The news was that her insurance company had sent a check—for more than $25000—to pay for some out-of-network lab tests. The actual bill was $28, but the doctor's office said they would waive her portion of the bill, which was $395,50.

“I decided it was a mistake,” Alexa said. “I thought maybe they meant $250.” I couldn’t understand in what universe I would go to the doctor for a strep culture test and antibiotics and end up with a $25000 bill.”

The doctor’s office continued to reassure the patient by phone and email that the tests and the invoice were completely correct.

How could a throat swab cost so much

Фото: Depositphotos

According to the source, there are three reasons for this.

The first reason It is that the doctor sent a smear from Kassdan's throat to a complex DNA test in search of viruses and bacteria that could explain the symptoms of her cold.

Dr. Ranit Mishori, a professor of family medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, says the study was unnecessary. “In 20 years as a physician, I have never ordered one of these tests, let alone seen any of my colleagues, students and other physicians order anything similar in an outpatient setting,” she said. “I have no idea why they were ordered.”

“The tests may make sense for a patient in the intensive care unit or a severe case of pneumonia,” Mishori explained. Flu tests are potentially useful, as there are medications that can help. But there is also a cheap rapid test that could be used instead.

Read more at ForumDaily New York.

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