Nonprofit Care/Private Parts
A woman diagnosed with leukemia is sent to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, according to a Wall Street Journal story:
- She is told she can have an appointment only if she brings a certified check for $45,000.
- But the $45,000 covers only lab tests. For an admission for actual treatment, the hospital demands $60,000 more.
- A nurse refuses to change the chemotherapy bag in her pump until her husband makes another payment.
- While she is sitting on an exam table awaiting a doctor, a hospital administrator argues with her about money.
- She is charged $360 for blood-tests most insurers pay $20 or less for; $120 for saline pouches that cost less than $2 retail; and $314 for a penis clamp (to control incontinence), although she has no penis.
Since M.D. Anderson is nonprofit, it pays no taxes. It has a $1.88 billion endowment and netted $310 million in income (profit) last year. Contributions are tax deductible.
This story reeks of exagerated urban legend. The give away is that a nurse was said to withhold tx until the pt. pays. This simply does not happen in the hospital setting. A nurse would not have the role of requesting payment. The true costs were probably more than retail, but those numbers are probably also over exagerated. Posting these kinds of myths doesn’t help the cause. Focus on the true and important issues. Thank you.