Reply With Quote
Serious Q: are "severe reactions to scorpion stings" a big issue in the US?
Serious Q: are "severe reactions to scorpion stings" a big issue in the US?
outrageous.
Unsure. Can you think of legit reasons for the difference in the cost of care?
legit? no way.
Wonder what the differential is in other parts of the world? Business opportunity?
this sounds exactly like the $20 generic drug used to delay pre-term deliveries, that was bought and remarketed for $1000+.
The only legit reasons I can think of (that aren't spelled out in the article,) would be high importation or logistical costs, but even then 12,000% seems a bit excessive!
The amount of the antivenom being brought in may also be an issue - but not in a supply/demand perspective but in an economies of scale perspective.
Please note, that while I propose these as potential legit reasons, I am not necessarily advocating that they are true.
The difference is because insurance companies have deep pockets, and contractually have no grounds for limiting what their exposure is for such a drug; therefore "what the market will bear" becomes "whatever it costs".
Good to know; if I ever get stung while hiking at Big Bend, I'll make sure to swim across the river.
Scorpion stings ain't no big thing. Been hit several times.
nothing but plain old screw-you-to- capitalism
That's what I was thinking. I've been stung several times. No big whoop. Didn't even know there was such a thing as scorpion anti-venom.
And of course your personal experience with brown scorpions should be the standard by which everyone else should be judged.
Surprise that its you and CC that do exactly the same rationale.
The focus on scorpion stings is well wide of the point, which was the price discrepancy.
Health care is a near vertical demand slope. The price is determined by the upper limit of a consumers means and not by market forces. I still think its hilarious that your nurses and doctors at the hospital have no idea what the prices are of the services they provide. I have a friend that is a nurse at a SA area hospital and when he asked his admins what the prices were he was told that it was not his job to know.
Pricing in the US medical industry is based on whim and not a reaction to a demand response.
I'm sure if you have a severe scorpion venom allergy, its more than a big whoop.
so glib
Reminds me of the 20 dollar bag of ice during Katrina
Theres a difference between giving a personal anecdote and complete reliance on a personal anecdote. There is also a big difference between what a registered nurse says and ty low level middle aged engineer says on the subject of health care.
Consider this.
What is the shelf life, and how soon does it have to be administered? If a hospital keeps 10 vials on hand at a time, has to replace it every two weeks, and gets one demand a year for it, what if the cost? If it goes through a link of suppliers, each has the same problem with shelf life. Then of course, each vial is probably tested changing adding to the original $100.
Now I'm not so worried about this issue, but before you all jump to conclusions, check such possibilities out.
Also, what is the acceptance rate? If only 1 in 10 is accepted for US standards, that $100 vial is now $1,000 plus testing, manpower, and profit.
What about those who have allergic reactions?
Funny that you keep putting down my job, but I'd make you the of the most junior engineer that works for me (assuming your were even qualified for that job).
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
