Posted on 07/30/2015 9:26:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A metro woman was shocked when she received a $200,000 hospital bill after being bitten by a snake.
Diane Nelson says she was wearing rubber gloves and working in her yard when she came across a Copperhead with a short temper.
Diane had been pulling grass from around her bushes when she felt a sting.
“When I pulled my glove off, I had two marks on my finger,” she said.
It was a bite from a Copperhead snake.
Within hours, Nelson’s entire arm was swollen and she was rushed to the ICU in need of anti-venom.
“I was in ICU for about two days, 48 hours,” Nelson said.
Two days and 18 vials of anti-venom later, Nelson was able to go home. She later received her bill, which was nearly $200,000 just for the anti-venom.
“The anti-venom is actually an anti-body that is specific for the type of snakes we have here in Oklahoma,” said Scott Schaeffer, with the Oklahoma Center For Poison and Drug Information.“It’s a very expensive anti-venom to make.”
Schaffer says the anti-venom is expensive for several reasons.
“The snakes have to be milked and several types are milked to create a pool of venom,” he said.
It then goes through an extensive process to create the drug, which is all done in Australia.
It is then shipped to hospitals here.
Another reason is there is a low demand for the drug and most hospitals do not keep much of it on hand.
“The shelf life compared to other drugs is relatively short. So if it doesn’t get used, it has to be discarded,” Schaeffer said.
“I was shocked. I knew it would be expensive but not that expensive,” Nelson said.
Fortunately, Nelson found out her insurance will cover the cost.
“It saved my life so I can’t complain,” she said.
If you are bitten by a snake, there are things you should not do.
Experts say you should never try to suck the venom out. In fact, Schaeffer says that could actually make it worse.
Also, don’t use ice on the bite and don’t use a tourniquet to keep the venom from spreading.
Instead, go immediately to the hospital.
Officials say while July has been a busy month for snake bites, they’re actually seeing a pretty average number for the year.
Go to a Mexican hospital. They have snake and scorpion anti venom about 1/100 what it costs here. You can survive the plane ride provided you have a passport.
Nobody forced her to get bit and seek treatment.
Hospital bills are grossly inflated.
There are the so called “gross” charges, which is likely what this $200,000 consists of. This is the gross revenue for the patient stay.
Then there is the “net revenue” or “net collectible” amount which the hospital expects to actually receive in payment. This amount is generally about 20-30% of the gross charges.
So, in round numbers, 30% of $200,000 is $60,000 that the hospital might expect to actually receive a check for to pay for this patient’s stay. And the insurance company pays the bulk of that.
A good analogy is airline fares. The full coach fare from New York to LA may be in the neighborhood of $1500 to $1800. Yet the price you actually pay can easily be in the area of $300 to $500. Very few people pay actual full coach fare for a plane ticket. And very few people pay that actual full cost which shows up on a gross charge hospital bill.
Come now. Two hundred thousand dollars is not exemplary of “everything right about our healthcare system”. LOL!
It’s a crock and everyone knows it. No wonder we are in the shape we’re in if you believe frisk and rob is okay.
I agree.
Stuned? With a beeber like device? Oh and BTW a moose once bit my sister. The non venemous variety, fortunately.
Because then, you might decide to ride it out after getting most of it out and not contribute to the medical cash farming Industry.
An uncle of mine, and my late grandfathers toy poodle were both bitten by copperheads and managed without AV. Was touch and go with the dog for a couple weeks... Uncle said it was “like 2 hot pokers of FAR stuck into ma ankle!”
Granted, the lady might have an allergy, or be some candy ass liberal transplant... (ARF!)
They said the same thing about cottonmouths in northern VA, I think if they’re rare they do that to keep people from being scared off (revenue) and trying to find them...
We have pygmy rattlers in FL. They all have Napoleon complexes—dang little things will attack anything. They generally aren’t deadly, but they will mess up your day.
I would think the regulatory burden makes it hideously more expensive in the US.
One vial cost my hospital 105 dollars.
Did they notify the snakes in writing that they don’t exist in Northern Ohio?
Snakes call it brut.
Other parts of FL they get 6'.
Depends on where you're bit, how close to a hospital. The old days they had no anti venom. In a vein, you 're dead.
Met a guy, his whole leg was just scarred skin and bones.
They inject an enzyme that breaks down protein, muscle tissue.
Oh, here, let me help:
TWO-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!!
Can you see it now?
My paternal grandfather was bitten by a copper head. He killed the snake, crosscut the Bute with his pocket knife to let it bleed out, and went about pulling potatoes from the patch.
/Story my dad recently told me, so this was mid 1950s rural Texas.
It’s good advice.
I was standing on a road in Withlacootchee State Forest a few years back. Just standing there looking.
I sense something, looked down and saw one of those going between my feet as it crossed the path.
Experts say you should never try to suck the venom out.
Why not?
In fact, Schaeffer says that could actually make it worse.
Why?
Also, don’t use ice on the bite...
Again, why not?
...and don’t use a tourniquet to keep the venom from spreading.
Once again, why not?
So, basically, don't do anything except "go immediately to the hospital". Brilliant.
How wonderfully informative and explanatory! Is this the sort of garbage that passes for journalism nowadays?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.