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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 308
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 308
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Ridiculous costs...
I'm getting afraid of what this is going to cost me.
I haven't received any bills or statements yet...but I just checked Blue Shield's website - and they have processed the claim. The infusion center charged roughly $3000, BS allows $2700...my cost is about $520. (I have a 20% copay). I don't believe this cost includes the Tysabri itself.
I can not believe that a place can charge $2700 for me to sit in a chair for 3 hrs - a nurse put in the I/V, took it out, and that's it.
Oh, part of that charge was nearly $300 for the "consult" with the doctor. Okay - was with doc for a total of 5 minutes (if that)! Only saving grace is that my copay is only $35 for the consult portion. The kicker is - my neurologist's billed charge to Blue Shield is HALF that amount - and he spends over an hour with me!! If my neuro is reading this - he ought to charge BS more (I only have a $35 copay regardless for office visits). But the bulk of the charge was for the infusion itself - and I don't think that includes the meds - but I'm not sure. It's just listed as "Office Medical"
Okay - you know what - I'm going to choose to believe, for the next 12 hrs (until I can call the infusion center) that the actual big portion (the $2550) is for the med itself. Besides for that part, there is the 300$ charge for the consult, then three others that are also listed as "Office Medical" - one for 90$, one for 30$, and one for $1. Geez, I'm really glad that I didn't opt for them to provide the benadryl!
I know that when I had the IVSM (at home) - the medication was listed as "pharmacy" - but I think that Tysabri wouldn't be listed that way? Okay, I'm stressing myself out....I guess with all that has happened on this road, I'm trying to prepare myself for the "worst".... I hope I can get an answer tomorrow.
Oh, Sheena, I asked TOUCH for their financial assistance program - it took over two weeks for the organization (not TOUCH) to mail me an applicaton...and with the application, they want a whole slew of stuff - and I'm just SO tired...the idea of gathering a million papers for them...I don't have it in me! sigh. I think they want everything including my shoe size! Guess I need to start working on that. Of course, by the time I'm either approved or denied for the assistance, I will have met my annual copay maximum. LOL
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