Re: Administrative costs

[Guest guest]

I will not disagree with you. I was only receiving 2 pints at a time

so it would be covered under medicare. I do know that when I

questioned my Part D provider about the billing because there was no

cost for the 2 pints of blood, but I did pay all the fees related to

the storage and processing. I live in MO and my son lives in WA and

when he went to give his regular donation he told them that he wanted

it placed in my name they told him they hadn't done that in several

years. My billed cost for the 6 hour transfusion process was between

$2500 and $3000 every 3 weeks from Nov.8, 2007 to May 25, 2008. If I

did not stop at the hospitsl for the blood draw to type and cross

match the evening before I was transfused then I would spend 8+ hours

in the transfusion room. I do understand that every state and

country and possibly hospital handles this differently. MO will not

pay for Procrit unless you are receiving intravenous chemo drugs, no

exceptions per my ONC. VA ONC agreed with him before I could get it

all explained. That would cost me approx. $1000 per shot if I didn't

qualify for the VA drug benefit.

H.

>

> Dear ,

> You aroused my curiosity about having to replace blood, so I

called my hospital and talked to someone in the business and

administrative offices to explain their charges.

> She said first, they charge for the product, it does not come

free, even if donated. If you give to an organization that comes

around in a van, they re-sell the blood, so if you want your blood to

go directly to the hospital, you go to the blood blank, but the

processing is costly. Next she said they ask you to replace the

blood after 2 units, or pay for it, it is optional. As far as

Medicare, they only pay for 3 units of blood and after that the cost

is yours. So we have the option of getting a donor or paying up

front. We are the only hospital around here who has a blood bank

where you can donate, the others buy their blood. Whew! Surprised

that I could get all that down in one breath. LOL. That's the

skinny on how we do it here. Anyone else have a comparison?

> Blessings and sunshine days,

> Lottie

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