Re: high cost of healthcare

[Guest guest]

--- Hi : Are you in clinical trial or do you just go to the hospital for

all your check-ups. When I was in clinical trial in NY, I did go there for

everything, but now I see my Oncologist in his office. I pay a $20.00 co-pay,

and then my blood work is done at a lab. I pay them a $20.00 co-pay. I am on

Gleevec, and I pay $80.00 for a 90 day supply through my Insurance/Prescription

Plan.

It does seem like your being over charged. I was amazed at your cost out of

pocket.

In , nchando@... wrote:

>

> I just read the post about the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. I

> agree with the writer's position that we do need a program. I was inspecting

> my latest bill from MSKCC the other day. I went there in July for my cml

> check up, which I do every three months. I saw a cml specialist who has an

> office located in the hospital, had bloodwork, and was there a short time

> since everything is fortunately going very well. The total of my bills is

> over FIVE THOUSAND dollars for that one visit! It is all being considered by

> insurance at this time, but I did have to immediately send $177.50 out of

> pocket for my co-pays for the dr. who saw me and for all the other doctors

> I've never even heard of who checked my pcr and other bloodwork. I feel my

> ins. ends up getting charged double for some services. For instance, the

> dr. who sees me briefly charges $270 for that visit, then the hospital

> charges $149 for the use of the office she sees me in! When I read through

the

> charges it amazes me. All the technicians charge for examining the blood

> and the hospital charges for the facility that they use to examine it in.

> It just doesn't seem fair. That doesn't even count the cost of the Tasigna

> that I take at 800 mg. per day. Something must be done to keep these

> costs down. I am very, very thankful for my health insurance.

>

> in NY

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow!

 

I though my plan was good!  Sign me up.

>

> I just read the post about the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. I

> agree with the writer's position that we do need a program. I was inspecting

> my latest bill from MSKCC the other day. I went there in July for my cml

> check up, which I do every three months. I saw a cml specialist who has an

> office located in the hospital, had bloodwork, and was there a short time

> since everything is fortunately going very well. The total of my bills is

> over FIVE THOUSAND dollars for that one visit! It is all being considered by

> insurance at this time, but I did have to immediately send $177.50 out of

> pocket for my co-pays for the dr. who saw me and for all the other doctors

> I've never even heard of who checked my pcr and other bloodwork. I feel my

> ins. ends up getting charged double for some services. For instance, the

> dr. who sees me briefly charges $270 for that visit, then the hospital

> charges $149 for the use of the office she sees me in! When I read through the

> charges it amazes me. All the technicians charge for examining the blood

> and the hospital charges for the facility that they use to examine it in.

> It just doesn't seem fair. That doesn't even count the cost of the Tasigna

> that I take at 800 mg. per day. Something must be done to keep these

> costs down. I am very, very thankful for my health insurance.

>

> in NY

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

SPEAKING OF EXPENSES, ON MY LAST INVOICE FROM U OF MICH.

FOR BONE MARROW SUPPLIES:  $374.00

FOR ASPIRATION SUPPLIES  :    260.00

SUPPLIES INCLUDE A COUPLE NEEDLES AND SOME LYDOCAINE, SOME GAUZE AND A PAPER

TOWEL.

ALSO ON THE INVOICE IS $1,534.00 FOR AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM, THAT TAKES 15 MIN AND

USES ABOUT ONE OZ. GEL.

SOME OF THE CHARGES FOR THE TESTS ON THE MARROW ARE $879, 495,

544, 496, 408,  ETC.  I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TESTS, THEY ARE NECESSARY,

BUT THE TOTAL BILL WAS FOR $6,109.00. BY THE WAY, THE BILL FOR DR. TALPAZ IS

ALWAYS THE SAME, $67.00...............

I HAVE MEDICARE AND AARP, I HAVE NO CO PAY, AND ALL BILLS ARE PAID BY THEM.  BUT

THE TOTAL OF MY HEALTH  CARE BILL IS ABOUT $325.00/MONTH, THAT IS WITH WHAT THEY

TAKE OUT OF  SOCIAL SECURITY FOR MEDICARE, AND PLAN D FOR DRUGS, AND  I PAY

212.22 FOR AARP.

NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM HAPPY WITH MY HEALTH CARE, BUT DO NOT APPROVE OF THE

OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES FOR EVERY THING .

 IN LOOKING OVER SEVERAL OF THE INVOICES, MEDICARE WILL BE BILLED $3900, AND

WILL APPROVE $3900, AND PAY 3860, AND AARP PAYS THE BALANCE.  AS I UNDERSTAND

IT, MEDICARE CANNOT ARGUE THE PRICES HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS CHARGE, THAT WOULD BE

ILLEGAL?  SO THERE IS REALLY NO ONE TO SAY, WHOA! THINGS ARE OUT OF HAND,

AND IF WE DO NOT HAVE COVERAGE WE ARE OUT OF LUCK!

SOMETHING DEFINITELY HAS TO CHANGE, EVEN IF IT IS NOT PERFECT, IT HAS TO BE

BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE.  BOBBY

a (Bobby) Doyle Brecksville, Ohio, USA DX 05/1995 02/2000 - Gleevec

Trial/OHSU 06/2002 - Gleevec/Trisenox Trial/OHSU 06/2003 - Gleevec/Zarnestra

Trial/OHSU 04/2004 - Sprycel Trial/MDACC, CCR in 10 months #840  -   Zavie's

Zero Club 09/2006 -  out of CCR 04/29/08 - XL228 Trial/ U.of Michigan

06/02/08 - CCR ( in 4 weeks)

02/13/09 - XL trial ended due to side effects

04/13/09 - New Trial, Ariad / U. of Mich./ Dr. Talpaz

 

>

> I just read the post about the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. I

> agree with the writer's position that we do need a program. I was inspecting

> my latest bill from MSKCC the other day. I went there in July for my cml

> check up, which I do every three months. I saw a cml specialist who has an

> office located in the hospital, had bloodwork, and was there a short time

> since everything is fortunately going very well. The total of my bills is

> over FIVE THOUSAND dollars for that one visit! It is all being considered by

> insurance at this time, but I did have to immediately send $177.50 out of

> pocket for my co-pays for the dr. who saw me and for all the other doctors

> I've never even heard of who checked my pcr and other bloodwork. I feel my

> ins. ends up getting charged double for some services. For instance, the

> dr. who sees me briefly charges $270 for that visit, then the hospital

> charges $149 for the use of the office she sees me in! When I read through the

> charges it amazes me. All the technicians charge for examining the blood

> and the hospital charges for the facility that they use to examine it in.

> It just doesn't seem fair. That doesn't even count the cost of the Tasigna

> that I take at 800 mg. per day. Something must be done to keep these

> costs down. I am very, very thankful for my health insurance.

>

> in NY

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

Two years ago, I made the visit to MSKCC, and had a routine Q-PCR/ABL/BCR, then

a BMB, and

slides with the mutational blood-work, my health insurance at that time was BCBS

of Illinois

and it cost me $25,000.00, plus $850.00 in varies Copays. This was shocking,

since like

experiences at MSKCC, the cost of health care is outrageous, and the so called

CML Specialist

charges a whopping bill, and why, because we are cancer patients? They also

failed to send

back any of my previous BMB's and slides for the last 7 years. Almost every

other month,

I am calling to get the Physician Dr. Jurcic to call me back as to where MSKCC

has left my

BMB's and slides. As most of you know these cannot be duplicated, and once

lost, so is our

history!

When I arrived and brought these records to Dr. Jurcic, I had asked that when he

was

done reviewing the BMB's and slides if he would kindly send them back to the

original hospital

which the package indicated where it should be send. Well, it goes to show that

the records you bring in are the records to take back, since no one is

responsible about those types of historical records which cannot be duplicated.

The hospital Head Pathologist which is called Hospital, in my home town,

has even called every 3 months to track down Dr. Jurcic staff, to find those

records, and yet no one has contacted us back!

If I knew MSKCC was going to be so difficult in obtaining my original records I

would have

never made the visit, and yet, I now see the very same thing at the Hospital at

Northwestern

Memorial here in Chicago, where there RQ-PCR/ABL/genes, were tested and in some

obscure language that only a Pathologist can understand by the testing results

send as it is stated by:

The products were analyzed by ABI 7000 quantitative PCR sequence detection

system. Amplification using the ABL primers and probe indicated the the RNA

isolation from the patients samples was negative. Results: Copies of BCR per

1000 copies of ABL: .0001. Interpretation of RQ-PCR is mesaured in copies of

BCR 10,000 copies of ABL. This test only detects the p210 transcript. The p190

transcript is not detected by this test. I have not a clue what this

test really means except for a short 5 minutes explanation, and test results of

this standards,

at NWM, this test is only available in pursuant to a license agreement with

Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., but it is not been cleared or approved by the

FDA.

Would this mean that I have a 4-log reduction? Or does this test need to be done

4 times per year to acknowlege a 4-log reduction? I have not been billed yet,

by this hospital, however,

I will keep you posted on what they charge for this test!

Dory Doggie

________________________________

From: " nchando@... " <nchando@...>

Sent: Friday, September 4, 2009 8:41:13 AM

Subject: [ ] high cost of healthcare

I just read the post about the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. I

agree with the writer's position that we do need a program. I was inspecting

my latest bill from MSKCC the other day. I went there in July for my cml

check up, which I do every three months. I saw a cml specialist who has an

office located in the hospital, had bloodwork, and was there a short time

since everything is fortunately going very well. The total of my bills is

over FIVE THOUSAND dollars for that one visit! It is all being considered by

insurance at this time, but I did have to immediately send $177.50 out of

pocket for my co-pays for the dr. who saw me and for all the other doctors

I've never even heard of who checked my pcr and other bloodwork. I feel my

ins. ends up getting charged double for some services. For instance, the

dr. who sees me briefly charges $270 for that visit, then the hospital

charges $149 for the use of the office she sees me in! When I read through the

charges it amazes me. All the technicians charge for examining the blood

and the hospital charges for the facility that they use to examine it in.

It just doesn't seem fair. That doesn't even count the cost of the Tasigna

that I take at 800 mg. per day. Something must be done to keep these

costs down. I am very, very thankful for my health insurance.

in NY

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris:  I have a Aetna Insurance Plan. I do not need referrals like other

insurance.  I do have my in network doctors, which we have been very fortunate

to have excellent doctors on our list.  I would be interested to see what other

people have.  When my husband retires, and we have to switch to Medicare or

whatever is left for us in this crazy world it scares the heck out of us.

>

> I just read the post about the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. I

> agree with the writer's position that we do need a program. I was inspecting

> my latest bill from MSKCC the other day. I went there in July for my cml

> check up, which I do every three months. I saw a cml specialist who has an

> office located in the hospital, had bloodwork, and was there a short time

> since everything is fortunately going very well. The total of my bills is

> over FIVE THOUSAND dollars for that one visit! It is all being considered by

> insurance at this time, but I did have to immediately send $177.50 out of

> pocket for my co-pays for the dr. who saw me and for all the other doctors

> I've never even heard of who checked my pcr and other bloodwork. I feel my

> ins. ends up getting charged double for some services. For instance, the

> dr. who sees me briefly charges $270 for that visit, then the hospital

> charges $149 for the use of the office she sees me in! When I read through the

> charges it amazes me. All the technicians charge for examining the blood

> and the hospital charges for the facility that they use to examine it in.

> It just doesn't seem fair. That doesn't even count the cost of the Tasigna

> that I take at 800 mg. per day. Something must be done to keep these

> costs down. I am very, very thankful for my health insurance.

>

> in NY

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bobby,

Aren't you in a trial? If so, so, doesn't the trial pay for

everything? Just checking as I just spoke to someone from Talpaz's

office about a trial to go offGleevec. I know that I have to payl for

transpotation and such, but unsure of the tests.

On Sep 4, 2009, at 12:32 PM, ROBERTA DOYLE wrote:

>

[Guest guest]

, yes I am in a trial and yes they pay for everything.  The point I was

trying to make was the exorbitant charges that are billed to Medicare.  Drug

companies do not pay for this, your insurance does. I think, for the billions of

bucks the pharmas. make on drugs, they should pay part of the bill for the

guinea pigs.  Many times we have to have a bma/bmb every month, for several

months, or until we reach CCR, then quarterly.  At 4 to 6 thousand a pop, this

puts a strain on Medicare.  I don't ever pay , I get a copy of the bills from U

of Mich, and later I get a copy of what Medicare and AARP have paid.

You certainly have a tough decision to make.  How wonderful that you have been

undectable for 4 years, but a tough choice to come off Gleevec when you know it

is working.  That is not

like going into a trial with a new drug, hoping it will be the drug that will

do the trick and guarantee you a better life.  You already have that, so I wish

you the best, whatever your decision is. I am a believer in what your husband

says, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  On the other hand I have great faith in

Dr. Talpaz.   Blessings, Bobby

a (Bobby) Doyle Brecksville, Ohio, USA DX 05/1995 02/2000 - Gleevec

Trial/OHSU 06/2002 - Gleevec/Trisenox Trial/OHSU 06/2003 - Gleevec/Zarnestra

Trial/OHSU 04/2004 - Sprycel Trial/MDACC, CCR in 10 months #840  -   Zavie's

Zero Club 09/2006 -  out of CCR 04/29/08 - XL228 Trial/ U.of Michigan

06/02/08 - CCR ( in 4 weeks)

02/13/09 - XL trial ended due to side effects

04/13/09 - New Trial, Ariad / U. of Mich./ Dr. Talpaz

 

--- On

Fri, 9/4/09, Orenstein <scrappygirl123@...> wrote:

From: Orenstein <scrappygirl123@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: high cost of healthcare

Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 4:58 PM

 

Bobby,

Aren't you in a trial? If so, so, doesn't the trial pay for

everything? Just checking as I just spoke to someone from Talpaz's

office about a trial to go offGleevec. I know that I have to payl for

transpotation and such, but unsure of the tests.

On Sep 4, 2009, at 12:32 PM, ROBERTA DOYLE wrote:

>

[Guest guest]

Hi :  This question just came up recently, and I found it interesting as to

why people are still going to hospitals for treatment when they can get the same

thing from their own Oncologist.  I am just going by my own situation.  I have

posted this before, and maybe you have seen it.  I went to NY for my clinical

trial, but when it was complete I went right back to my Oncologist.  I have not

gone to any hospital specialist since 2001.  I feel if there is any change in my

status, then I would look further to see somebody else.  Right now I get my

check-ups, lab work, and my medication.

     I have been curious when I see so many people traveling all over the place

to see all these doctors if not for a trial.  It does seem like more money is

being layed out then necessary IN SOME CASES.

SUZZIE

From: nchando@... <nchando@...>

Subject: [ ] high cost of healthcare

Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 7:46 PM

 

I'm interested to find out that some others also have had bills as high as

mine. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth staying with my cml specialist at

MSKCC. I could see a local oncologist every three months and only pay one

$15 copay each time. My copays for the doctors alone for one visit at

MSKCC were $177. I re-checked my bill and saw that I am charged copays for the

dr. who read the cytogenics, the dr. who did the molecular interpretation,

the pathology group dr., the leukemia specialist, the cardiologist who

interpreted my EKG, among others. Is this all necessary? I could have a pcr

blood test ordered by my local oncologist, pay him a copay, then the local

lab one copay as well. I could save this copay money that the cancer

hospital charges me for what seems like every person who works there! When I

was diagnosed, I was encouraged by online discussion groups to see a cml

specialist, but now I wonder if the cancer hospitals are ripping us off. I

know we see the doctors who specialize in our disease, but some of these

charges seem ridiculous! Do we really have to pay the dr., then also pay for

the office space he sees us in? Also do we have to pay for the blood draw,

then for 10 or 15 pathologists who interpret the results? It makes me feel

like I should just give up. (I am not in a trial. I take Tasigna).

Thanks for listening.

in NY

[Guest guest]

,

Just to let you know, I still go to OHSU as my own area does not do

the same PCR testing as they do. I on;y go once a year, and then send

my blood there 1 - 2 more times. The labs in my area only do 100,000

cells, as OHSU does 1 - 5 million. I amnot in a trial, and never had

been, but I live in the southeast part of Florida, where we do not

have specialists, just a local oncologist, whole is a general practice.

On Sep 6, 2009, at 7:58 PM, Armour wrote:

>

> I have been curious when I see so many people traveling all

> over the place to see all these doctors if not for a trial. It does

> seem like more money is being layed out then necessary IN SOME CASES.

> SUZZIE

>

>

>

> From: nchando@... <nchando@...>

> Subject: [ ] high cost of healthcare

>

> Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 7:46 PM

>

>

>

> I'm interested to find out that some others also have had bills as

> high as

> mine. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth staying with my cml

> specialist at

> MSKCC. I could see a local oncologist every three months and only

> pay one

> $15 copay each time. My copays for the doctors alone for one visit at

> MSKCC were $177. I re-checked my bill and saw that I am charged

> copays for the

> dr. who read the cytogenics, the dr. who did the molecular

> interpretation,

> the pathology group dr., the leukemia specialist, the cardiologist who

> interpreted my EKG, among others. Is this all necessary? I could

> have a pcr

> blood test ordered by my local oncologist, pay him a copay, then the

> local

> lab one copay as well. I could save this copay money that the cancer

> hospital charges me for what seems like every person who works

> there! When I

> was diagnosed, I was encouraged by online discussion groups to see a

> cml

> specialist, but now I wonder if the cancer hospitals are ripping us

> off. I

> know we see the doctors who specialize in our disease, but some of

> these

> charges seem ridiculous! Do we really have to pay the dr., then also

> pay for

> the office space he sees us in? Also do we have to pay for the blood

> draw,

> then for 10 or 15 pathologists who interpret the results? It makes

> me feel

> like I should just give up. (I am not in a trial. I take Tasigna).

>

> Thanks for listening.

> in NY

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi :  Thank You for that information.  I really did not realize that you

could not get what you need in some areas.  I wish you the best if you are going

to do the new trial.  I will keep checking to see how its going.  Please keep us

up to date. God Bless You

Suzzie

>

> From: nchandoaol (DOT) com <nchandoaol (DOT) com>

> Subject: [ ] high cost of healthcare

> groups (DOT) com

> Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 7:46 PM

>

>

>

> I'm interested to find out that some others also have had bills as

> high as

> mine. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth staying with my cml

> specialist at

> MSKCC. I could see a local oncologist every three months and only

> pay one

> $15 copay each time. My copays for the doctors alone for one visit at

> MSKCC were $177. I re-checked my bill and saw that I am charged

> copays for the

> dr. who read the cytogenics, the dr. who did the molecular

> interpretation,

> the pathology group dr., the leukemia specialist, the cardiologist who

> interpreted my EKG, among others. Is this all necessary? I could

> have a pcr

> blood test ordered by my local oncologist, pay him a copay, then the

> local

> lab one copay as well. I could save this copay money that the cancer

> hospital charges me for what seems like every person who works

> there! When I

> was diagnosed, I was encouraged by online discussion groups to see a

> cml

> specialist, but now I wonder if the cancer hospitals are ripping us

> off. I

> know we see the doctors who specialize in our disease, but some of

> these

> charges seem ridiculous! Do we really have to pay the dr., then also

> pay for

> the office space he sees us in? Also do we have to pay for the blood

> draw,

> then for 10 or 15 pathologists who interpret the results? It makes

> me feel

> like I should just give up. (I am not in a trial. I take Tasigna).

>

> Thanks for listening.

> in NY

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'll stick with my cml specialist. Fortunately he is also local. I started out

with an onco in1999 and it took me months to realize he didn't even know what I

was talking about when I was trying to get in the trial for sti571 (gleevec). I

recently lost my response to gleevec and immediately had testing and switched to

sprycel.

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 6, 2009, at 7:58 PM, Armour <suzzienovember@...> wrote:

Hi : This question just came up recently, and I found it interesting as to

why people are still going to hospitals for treatment when they can get the same

thing from their own Oncologist. I am just going by my own situation. I have

posted this before, and maybe you have seen it. I went to NY for my clinical

trial, but when it was complete I went right back to my Oncologist. I have not

gone to any hospital specialist since 2001. I feel if there is any change in my

status, then I would look further to see somebody else. Right now I get my

check-ups, lab work, and my medication.

I have been curious when I see so many people traveling all over the place

to see all these doctors if not for a trial. It does seem like more money is

being layed out then necessary IN SOME CASES.

SUZZIE

From: nchando@... <nchando@...>

Subject: [ ] high cost of healthcare

Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 7:46 PM

I'm interested to find out that some others also have had bills as high as

mine. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth staying with my cml specialist at

MSKCC. I could see a local oncologist every three months and only pay one

$15 copay each time. My copays for the doctors alone for one visit at

MSKCC were $177. I re-checked my bill and saw that I am charged copays for the

dr. who read the cytogenics, the dr. who did the molecular interpretation,

the pathology group dr., the leukemia specialist, the cardiologist who

interpreted my EKG, among others. Is this all necessary? I could have a pcr

blood test ordered by my local oncologist, pay him a copay, then the local

lab one copay as well. I could save this copay money that the cancer

hospital charges me for what seems like every person who works there! When I

was diagnosed, I was encouraged by online discussion groups to see a cml

specialist, but now I wonder if the cancer hospitals are ripping us off. I

know we see the doctors who specialize in our disease, but some of these

charges seem ridiculous! Do we really have to pay the dr., then also pay for

the office space he sees us in? Also do we have to pay for the blood draw,

then for 10 or 15 pathologists who interpret the results? It makes me feel

like I should just give up. (I am not in a trial. I take Tasigna).

Thanks for listening.

in NY