Strep Testing - Am I being ripped off?

(chestand) said:

Why oh why though would FOUR latex agglutination tests
need to be performed? I'm tempted to call them and tell
them I'll pay for the first three tests only. If it was
tech/nurse error in swabbing, why should that be my
responsibility?

I have no idea; did you ask *them*?

Anyone who goes to a hospital ER for a sore throat is an
idiot. Sorry, but I hope you've learned a valuable lesson.

(chestand) said:

I recently took my son (20 y.o.)to our local county run
hospital ER because of a complaint of a sore throat with
white spots. He's not on my company's health insurance any
longer and his job doesn't carry health benefits.

They ran level 1 basic assessment ($70 on the bill I
received) and the following tests along with charges:

Level 1? If all he did was read "sore throat" on the chart
and look in his throat, I can imagine he would bill only a
level 1, but otherwise, I wonder if the doctor undercoded
(i.e., billed an inappropriately low fee) as a courtesy to
your uninsured son.

Quoted message said:

Group A Strep Screen $32.00 Strep Culture $29.00 Micro
Latex Test $16.00 Micro Latex Test addt'l test $16.00
Micro Latex Test addt'l test $16.00 Micro Latex Test
addt'l test $16.00

Grand Total $195.00 Diagnosis - Not positive for strep -
amoxicillin script dispensed.

Just curious: If it was not strep, then why was he given
amoxicillin?

Quoted message said:

Why oh why though would FOUR latex agglutination tests need
to be performed? I'm tempted to call them and tell them
I'll pay for the first three tests only. If it was
tech/nurse error in swabbing, why should that be my
responsibility?

Well of course you should call them. (Well, actually, your
son should, since they would be violating privacy laws by
discussing an adult's medical bill with you, even if you
are his father and are paying the bill for him.) Why are
you asking on here? Your son is entitled to an explanation
of the bill.

PF

anon <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<2004041222061016807%anon@anoncom>...

Quoted message said:

On 2004-04-12 14:50:09 -0400, [email hidden]

(chestand) said:

Why oh why though would FOUR latex agglutination tests
need to be performed? I'm tempted to call them and tell
them I'll pay for the first three tests only. If it was
tech/nurse error in swabbing, why should that be my
responsibility?

I have no idea; did you ask *them*?

Anyone who goes to a hospital ER for a sore throat is an
idiot. Sorry, but I hope you've learned a valuable lesson.

The lesson I've learned is to expect name calling no matter
what usenet group I'm posting to. I guess a legit request
for information is too much to ask for when there are
insults to be handed out. Just so you'll know, I called the
walk-in clinic and they were full and were seeing no more
patients that day. They directed me to the emergency room...
I'm 47 years old and my valuable lesson learning days are
for the most part behind me. But thanks for the knee jerk
reaction. On second thought, scratch the knee portion of the
previous sentence.

(chestand) said:

anon <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<2004041222061016807%anon@anoncom>...

Quoted message said:

On 2004-04-12 14:50:09 -0400, [email hidden]

(chestand) said:

Why oh why though would FOUR latex agglutination tests
need to be performed? I'm tempted to call them and tell
them I'll pay for the first three tests only. If it was
tech/nurse error in swabbing, why should that be my
responsibility?

I have no idea; did you ask *them*?

Anyone who goes to a hospital ER for a sore throat is an
idiot. Sorry, but I hope you've learned a valuable
lesson.

The lesson I've learned is to expect name calling no
matter what usenet group I'm posting to.

Well, duh!

Quoted message said:

Just so you'll know, I called the walk-in clinic and they
were full and were seeing no more patients that day.

And, of course, your sore throat couldn't wait another
minute. Like I said before...

"PF Riley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Just curious: If it was not strep, then why was he given
amoxicillin?

because if the pretest probability of strep throat was high
enough, the negative rapid strep test was a moot point.
fever, pus in the throat, lymphadenopathy in a 20 year old
-- i'd be thinking about streptococcal pharyngitis or
mononucleosis. If no abdominal tenderness and the history is
good for strep throat (sick contacts, prior history) -- i'd
probably give antibiotics and send off a throat culture if
there's any doubt. Further, I think it's cruel to give
people with bad pharyngitis oral antibiotics -- they already
have trouble swallowing liquids and food, now you're going
to get them to swallow pills 2-4x a day? Why not offer a one-
time intramuscular shot of penicillin? Perhaps the extra
latex assays are for monospot testing? perhaps they did
other tests other than repeating a rapid strep repeatedly?