Home vs Hospital RAI - RANT!

[Guest guest]

I will NEVER do RAI isolation in the Hospital again (hopefully no

more RAI).

I asked if I could do outpatient, my endo told me state NRC rules

prohibit anything over 29.9 as outpatient - my dose was 102 mCi.

During my post RAI scan (after the fact), the nuc tech told me that

some do my dose at home !! I asked about the criteria - I have 2

older children...access to private room/bath...He said it's doctor's

discretion..

We just got the bill from the hospital and the " In Hospital Misc.

Services " came to $3087, plus my room/board @ $550. For some reason

that I'll research, our insurance shows 50% coverage....making our

cost for my " necessary " stay a whopping $800.50 !!!

I could have wrapped my own room in plastic for less than $10.00!! I

also could have taken a shower at home (hospital room shower was

boarded up). I could have eaten what I want, when I wanted and not

stayed in a room with spoiled food. I wouldn't have missed out on

medical attention, as there was none during my isolation (as it

should be). I could have called or gone to the hospital if I ran into

problems at home.

And last but not least, my endo charged $225 to pop her head in the

door to say " Hi " twice. No medical services - no requests on my

part. I think the insurance is covering all but $16 for that.

I plan to discuss with my endo why I wasn't a candidate for home

RAI. We'll take up the coverage discrepencies with the insurance

company, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost for " their "

room vs. mine.

Sandy

TT/RAI Oct. 2000, pap

102 mCi Oct. 2001

..175 synthroid