Scorpion sting leads to a hefty bill

[Billybob]

Treating A Scorpion Sting: $ 100 In Mexico Or $ 12,000 In U.S.

http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.or...scorpion-sting-100-in-mexico-or-12000-in-u-s/

[The Mexican biotechnology company produces more than 250,000 vials for Mexican residents, who are charged about $100 per vial at pharmacies or even less at government-funded clinics for a drug that is administered intravenously, Alagón said.

But the cost inflates when the serum is sold in the United States. Each link in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, from the Mexican factory to Arizona patients, raises the price.

Because the price is so high, doctors say they are forced to discuss the drug's costs before giving it to people they feel could benefit.]

http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/NEWS/2011-11-14-PNI1114met-scorpionART_ST_U.htm

Hospital agrees to cut scorpion sting victim's bills

The Chandler Regional Hospital said in a release that it will work with the insurer of Marcie Edmonds, who was given Anascorp as treatment for a scorpion sting, but not told of the high out-of-network cost.

http://ktar.com/22/1573189/Hospital-agrees-to-cut-sting-victims-bills

Interesting, after lot of publicity the hospitals are reviewing cost.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Ana...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[MyMonkey]

Treating A Scorpion Sting: $ 100 In Mexico Or $ 12,000 In U.S.

http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.or...scorpion-sting-100-in-mexico-or-12000-in-u-s/

[The Mexican biotechnology company produces more than 250,000 vials for Mexican residents, who are charged about $100 per vial at pharmacies or even less at government-funded clinics for a drug that is administered intravenously, Alagón said.

But the cost inflates when the serum is sold in the United States. Each link in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, from the Mexican factory to Arizona patients, raises the price.

Because the price is so high, doctors say they are forced to discuss the drug's costs before giving it to people they feel could benefit.]

http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/NEWS/2011-11-14-PNI1114met-scorpionART_ST_U.htm

Hospital agrees to cut scorpion sting victim's bills

The Chandler Regional Hospital said in a release that it will work with the insurer of Marcie Edmonds, who was given Anascorp as treatment for a scorpion sting, but not told of the high out-of-network cost.

http://ktar.com/22/1573189/Hospital-agrees-to-cut-sting-victims-bills

Interesting, after lot of publicity the hospitals are reviewing cost.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Ana...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Absolute eye opener! Thanks! What tha hell!

 

[twoguns?]

That why I get my prescriptions from.........Canada ...90% cheaper and they mail them right to ya ...US Postal ..no less

 

[JD8]

Two recorded deaths .... choking on your tooth brush is deadlier.

One might want to consider a background behind your statistic..... here in the US it seems to be less deadly because overall treatment methods are better and availibility of anti-venom. In Mexico where medicine is lacking, it killed 800 people in the 80s.

So he IS correct concerning the pathology and severity of the venom.

 

[rapidsequence]

You want Mexican medicine? Have at it..Enjoy.

Look, medicine is expensive. Does it have to be? No. Not like it is now. But it will always be somewhat pricey. But take the scorpion antivenom. How long did research take to develop? How long to get to market? How many actual doses are used in a year? All these things will ensure it is never on the $4.00 list.

I can promise you, I've been practicing medicine 15 yrs and have never been influenced by a drug rep or company. If your drug is crap, I won't use it. If its good, it gets prescribed/used. Americans demand the best, and God help you if you dont do EVERYTHING to "fix" their maladies. If they didn't give this chick the antivenom and she had a bad outcome, the docs would have their butts sued. Could they have said "hey, we were worried about cost, so we took it easy on her."? We all know that would not fly. Cheap medicine is not good, and good medicine is not cheap. You want it different? Juarez is just a little south of here. Enjoy.

 

[MoBoost]

If the person is a healthy adult without high blood pressure or heart disease, we'll tell them to clean the sting area with soap and water and to apply a cool compress like an ice pack for ten minutes on and ten off. We also recommend they keep the affected area at about heart level.

Most importantly, if they are having full body symptoms like visual changes, shortness of breath, or muscle twitching, they need to be seen in an emergency room immediately. Very few actually die from scorpion stings. Death is extremely uncommon. We have had only one scorpion sting death in the last six years. Ninety-five percent of all healthy adults can survive without attention.

Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center Managing Director Jude McMally

 

[MoBoost]

Look, medicine is expensive. Does it have to be? No. Not like it is now. But it will always be somewhat pricey. But take the scorpion antivenom. How long did research take to develop? How long to get to market? How many actual doses are used in a year? All these things will ensure it is never on the $4.00 list.

According to a few sources, the antivenom and the need for one was a "panic fear" strategy by a researcher ( Stahnke?) to fund the research: bark scorpion was scapegoat for a while.

 

[JD8]

Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center Managing Director Jude McMally

Unless she is refering to bark scorpions specifically I don't see how this applies? Mind sharing a link?

 

[MoBoost]

Unless she is refering to bark scorpions specifically I don't see how this applies? Mind sharing a link?

Sorry about that: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/arizona-49211-scorpion-bark.html

 

[rapidsequence]

Jude is the man. One of the absolute best in toxicology. I agree w him in that most healthy adults can weather the sting, however, *if* you have a bad outcome, you're gonna wonder "why in the hell didn't those idiot doctors do anything?". I can quote you evidence based/best practice protocols all day long, but if are the one in kidney failure from a bite/sting/whatever, you're gonna want to cash out on my malpractice insurance.