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A Californiafamilywaschargednearly$300,000in medical bills after their two-year-old son was bitten by arattlesnake.
I thought he was going to die.
We all thought he was going to die, Briglands mother, Lindsay Pfeffer, toldCBS8.
By the time they reached thehospital, the toddlers hand was swollen and purple.
In the end, it took 30 vials of antivenom to treat him.
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Nobody understands how hes alive.
This is unheard of why he actually made it, Pfeffer said.
But you have to survive to get there.
Anavip, the antivenom used on the boy, accounts for $213,278.80 of the bill.
Nobody understands how hes alive.
(On average, a patient requires 18 vials to treat asnakebite, as perKFF Health News.)
Where does this figure come from?
According to Boyer, the venom itself accounts for only 2 cents of the total.
Manufacturing costs $9, and clinical trials account for $300 per vial.
But $10,250over 70% of thetotal priceis attributable to hospital charges.
When Anavip entered the market, they were sued for patent infringement by CroFabs maker.
All the parties benefit when the price rises.
Pharmaceutical companies may offer coupon programs for those who cant afford a certain drug.
Companies can take a stab at bargain with the hospital.
Often, the hospital or others will negotiate.
But families should beware.
Aggressive hospitals or billers can dispatch aggressive debt collection agencies that can hound the family and ruin their credit.
Some facilities provide care even if patients dont have insurance, addedDr.
Kenneth H. Schell, a pharmacy regulatory and compliance consultant and professor of Pharmacy Law and Ethics.
In these cases, the cost is arranged between the healthcare facility and the patient.
There are manufacturer programs and other methods to help the patient pay.
As a last resort, a facility may have a program for those who cannot pay.
This ultimately results in the facility writing off the non-payment as bad debt.
About five of those people die.
As not all emergency rooms carry antivenom, its recommended to go to a large hospital.
His family has installedsnakefencing around their yard.
Bored Pandahas contacted LinsdayPfeffer for comment.
We deserve and desperately need universal healthcare, one reader exclaimed
