Woman's Scorpion Bill Stings Worse Than the Bite: Charged $80,000
After an Arizona woman was treated for a scorpion bite at the hospital, she thought the worst was over. Several weeks later she got the bill.
It cost Marcie Edmonds one hour to call the poison center, three hours to have it treated at the hospital, and $83,046. The bill was sent as special courtesy by Chandler Regional Medical Center.
"Everyone I talk to says, 'You've got to be kidding,'" Edmonds told The Arizona Republic.
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Edmonds was forced to make the hospital trip after talking to poison control center. She reported experiencing mild tingling, throat tightness, darting eyes, muscle spams, and difficulty breathing. When she arrived, doctors administered two vials of relatively new anti-venom called Anascorp.
Scorpion bites that go untreated can result in muscle spasms that resemble a seizure. They may also cause respiratory problems that in some cases can be life threatening.
The hospital has blamed Edmons' high priced bill on the newness of the treatment that was administered to her. But if Edmond's had been treated a year earlier, it may have cost her nothing at all.
Dr. Keith Boesen, the director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, told ABC News that the 10-year clinical trials ended last year, during which time the anti-venom was offered for free.
The drug is made of horse antibodies, which is collected in Mexico. The average cost of one vial is about $100. The hospital says it is working on lowering Edmonds' bill.
The hospital said "out of network" billing led to increased expenses but stated, "we are also currently reviewing our pricing of this expensive specialty medication."
Boesen also explained that the treatment is not administered very often because very few people require treatment for scorpion bites.
"It's only given to 200 people," he told ABC.
