Coronavirus

[Dr. J]

1.5M x $3,100 per test (I think that's what I heard the tests cost the patient in the U.S.). Someone is going to make a pile of money.

As with everything in the US healthcare system. Check out the charges for this guy's hospital visit, which apparently did not include a coronavirus test but did include an STD test (for some reason?) Supposedly, CDC is not charging for the CV test, though CDC no longer is the only test supplier.
A US resident racked up a $3,200 hospital bill for suspected coronavirus treatment, and his insurance only covered part of it. Here's how the costs broke down.

Edit: maybe STD in this case means "standard." I dunno.

 

[KSilver2000]

As with everything in the US healthcare system. Check out the charges for this guy's hospital visit, which apparently did not include a coronavirus test but did include an STD test (for some reason?) Supposedly, CDC is not charging for the CV test, though CDC no longer is the only test supplier.
A US resident racked up a $3,200 hospital bill for suspected coronavirus treatment, and his insurance only covered part of it. Here's how the costs broke down.

Edit: maybe STD in this case means "standard." I dunno.

slight OT from that article, but relevant:
Many people in the US, unfortunately, don’t know the distinction between ER and urgent care, or even its existence of.

 

[bkp_duke]

OT:
This comment brings back a lot of memories from back in time in the mol bio labs, heh.
Pouring my own gels in the university labs then finding out about rapid gels in the corporate, resource plentiful world. Among many other things.

Those days still keep me up at night . . . I truly hated pouring my own gels and viewed it as an absolute waste of time (seriously, those things were not THAT expensive to buy in bulk).

 

[bkp_duke]

As with everything in the US healthcare system. Check out the charges for this guy's hospital visit, which apparently did not include a coronavirus test but did include an STD test (for some reason?) Supposedly, CDC is not charging for the CV test, though CDC no longer is the only test supplier.
A US resident racked up a $3,200 hospital bill for suspected coronavirus treatment, and his insurance only covered part of it. Here's how the costs broke down.

Edit: maybe STD in this case means "standard." I dunno.

$3200. . . that's pretty much the admission fee for the ER these days.

 

[Dr. J]

slight OT from that article, but relevant:
Many people in the US, unfortunately, don’t know the distinction between ER and urgent care, or even its existence of.

People use ERs even for primary care: Emergency Rooms: Why So Many People Use Them

System is whack.

 

[bkp_duke]

slight OT from that article, but relevant:
Many people in the US, unfortunately, don’t know the distinction between ER and urgent care, or even its existence of.

AMEN. It's this mis-use of care that is one contributing factor of the increasing costs.

I'll never forget one Friday night I was working the ER as a resident and a family of 7 showed up for their "well child" visits. Our hospital policy was I was not allowed to turn anyone away, for any reason. So they were triaged absolutely last and I saw them at 5AM right before the end of my shift.

 

[dakh]

Map of outbreak by state in US. The numbers keep climbing (ie another case in Florida today) and FWIW there should be better coordination between states.

Florida Dept of Health found out through the newspapers that a New Yorker that tested positive (as they are prone to do in winter) had traveled to Miami. NY State Dept of Health failed in not notifying the Florida Dept of Health.

These numbers are junk, at least for WA. There was no testing of anyone with symptoms unless they were in China or are about dead. Maybe that'll improve tomorrow but the reality is, it's out there in the wild and we don't know how many people have it. Couple thousands is what everyone keeps repeating.

 

[EVNow]

Important point from Who director ...

And fourth, we don’t even talk about containment for seasonal flu – it’s just not possible. But it is possible for COVID-19. We don’t do contact tracing for seasonal flu – but countries should do it for COVID-19, because it will prevent infections and save lives. Containment is possible.​

 

[bkp_duke]

Containment is possible.

*Cough* BS *Cough*

That horse has long since left the barn. That WHO director sounds more like a politician telling people what they want to hear, in order to keep panic down.

 

[Causalien]

I don't think modern tonic water contains effective amounts of quinine, which can apparently have some negative side effects.

So drink even more?

 

[KarenRei]

1.5M x $3,100 per test (I think that's what I heard the tests cost the patient in the U.S.). Someone is going to make a pile of money.

COVID-19 Tests Don't Cost Over $3,000

 

[guidooo]

1.5M x $3,100 per test (I think that's what I heard the tests cost the patient in the U.S.). Someone is going to make a pile of money.

Think if testing is really that expensive then pricing should come down. And the pile of money, someone probably (un)intentionally already made.
UPDATED: Happy alone Qiagen changes course after Thermo Fisher offers to buy it in $11.5B deal

 

[JRP3]

*Cough* BS *Cough*

You better get tested with that cough.

 

[KarenRei]

 

[linux-works]

You better get tested with that cough.

and now my pc is infecccccccccccccccted. damn, my keyyyyyyyyyyboard, too.

(reinstall)

 

[bkp_duke]

You better get tested with that cough.

Why? Is there a treatment? If not, what's the point of testing?

One of the first things taught in medical school: don't order tests that don't give you actionable information. From an epidemiology standpoint, the testing has value, but from being able to do a damn thing if I'm positive, zilch.

Ironically, I did start developing an upper respiratory infection today. Damn kids are always bringing something home.

 

[Causalien]

Why? Is there a treatment? If not, what's the point of testing?

One of the first things taught in medical school: don't order tests that don't give you actionable information. From an epidemiology standpoint, the testing has value, but from being able to do a damn thing if I'm positive, zilch.

Ironically, I did start developing an upper respiratory infection today. Damn kids are always bringing something home.

If you are positive, quarantine yourself so you don't infect your loved ones. That's one reason.

Ya, the test doesn't help YOU right now. But it helps others from getting it.

 

[KSilver2000]

If you are positive, quarantine yourself so you don't infect your loved ones. That's one reason.

Ya, the test doesn't help YOU right now. But it helps others from getting it.

That doesn’t sound quite right.
If I read you correctly, it makes it seem:

if (test=pos) {quarantine self}
else {free to roam about}

Ideally, if he’s sick, he should stay home regardless whether a test shows he has the Cov virus or other routine infection.

 

[Causalien]

That doesn’t sound quite right.
If I read you correctly, it makes it seem:

if (test=pos) {quarantine self}
else {free to roam about}

Ideally, if he’s sick, he should stay home regardless whether a test shows he has the Cov virus or other routine infection.

I re read my message and realized I forgot a word.

ANyway, that is the ideal situation, but we all know that everyone in NA are 1 paycheck away from bankruptcy and there's a culture of not taking sick leave from all the shaming and firing on the spot. I have made the argument several times before when I was just a clog in a machine. If you are sick stay home. The company loses more money from 1 person infecting everyone than if that person just stays home. Did I convince anyone? Nope.

 

[Alfred]

Proof that it is a cheap test please.

These things are usually ELISA's or RT-PCRs. ELISA's are expensive, RT-PCR are not a "rapid" test and take more than a few minutes (benefit of an ELISA), but if done en masse can be orders of magnitude cheaper.

In Switzerland the test was quoted to cost SFR 180.- (187 USD). Samples are analysed regionally and then a second time in a "reference lab" in Geneva. Cases are considered confirmed if both turned out positive. The quote in the press did not specify whether the price was for both tests. The testing is covered by the compulsory health insurance.
The conditions for testing to be done (and paid for) are specified officially too. Currently (March 4) about 2000 negative tests stand against 40 positive.
If you are interested you can read about the details here. Click on your language choice on the top right. Information for the general public is also available in English. Some more specialised pages for health care professionals are only in German, French or Italian.