PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona woman is wondering what hurt more: getting stung by a scorpion or seeing her hospital bill after treatment.
Marcie Edmonds says the bill from Chandler Regional Medical Center was more than $83,000. That includes two doses of anti-venom at nearly $40,000 per dose.
The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/RD6bX8) says Edmonds’ insurer has paid more than $57,000 and the suburban Phoenix hospital is asking Edmonds for the balance of about $25,000.
The 52-year-old Ahwatukee (ah-wha-TU’-kee) Foothills resident was stung in June while opening a box of air conditioner filters in her garage.
Edmonds says an emergency room doctor told her about the Mexican anti-venom Anascorp that could quickly relieve her symptoms, but she was never told about the cost.
Chandler Regional says Edmonds’ bill represents the out-of-network costs for her treatment.
Editor’s Note: Produced in Mexico, this drug is administered for much less in that country than in the United States. $100 versus $64,000? Why? http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/11/10/20111110scorpion-drug-cost.html
