Why Does Blood Work Cost So Much?
For people who regularly visit their local hospital or clinic to receive some form of lab work, it’s no surprise when the medical bill comes back with costs much higher than anticipated. Those costs can become significant over time, and it leaves many wondering why the cost of lab tests is so high.
Thankfully, Elevated Health can help explain:
Our direct primary care practice, located in Huntington Beach, CA, is built on the foundation of providing transparent, affordable care to each patient regardless of insurance or past medical history. Considering blood work is one of the most common forms of lab testing available, it becomes increasingly important for providers to help explain the high price tag.
Elusive Blood Work Cost: Explained
For any procedure, or otherwise billable item, the largest challenge of explaining the costs lies in transparency. It was only until recently that hospitals could get away with hiding prices from the public. Thankfully, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stepped in to help Americans make informed decisions about their healthcare.
A pandemic of its own, the industry-wide concept of allowing vague medical pricing directly opposed the key principles of informed consent — which medical experts accept as a requirement for providing care. So then, why can blood work costs range from pocket change to well over the cost of your rent?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer.
Research from The New York Times suggests several factors: insurance co-pays, market stability, individual healthcare providers, and even where you live, to name a few. Shockingly, they found the same comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) cost as low as $12 in Los Angeles, CA, while it could cost up to $564 in San Francisco, CA. As a member of Elevated Health, that same CMP costs just under $4.
Overpriced and shady pricing is simply unacceptable.
The fact of the matter is it should not be this confusing for a person to find affordable lab work where they live. As a direct primary care provider, we at Elevated Health want to fight non-transparent and unfair pricing practices by offering competitive lab pricing and other services at a fraction of the cost you would find elsewhere. To help you even more, we offer both in-person and telemedicine services — now you can receive the care you need at an affordable price and at your own convenience.
How to Find Better Pricing
Now, let’s identify a few ways you can avoid the high cost of lab tests without getting caught up in confusing or expensive solutions:
- Look for Tools and Resources Online (with Caution). With a simple search, you’ll find dozens of articles and resources regarding the cost of common lab tests or other pricing concerns. However, not all of that information may be relevant to your unique situation — so if you’re unsure about a resource or can’t find an answer to your question, try contacting us!
- Consider the Benefits of Direct Primary Care. As a direct primary care practice, it isn’t difficult for Elevated Health to provide affordable, transparent care to members across the world. This isn’t an insurance plan: it’s a model for providing comprehensive healthcare directly from a physician to you, cutting out the middle man. Even if you aren’t near our office in Huntington Beach, CA, we can help you find affordable lab testing through third-party services such as LabCorp. Check out our FAQ page if you want to learn more about this innovative approach to healthcare.
- Talk with Your Direct Physician. Making medical decisions can be overwhelming and confusing. To help you make the best decision for both your health and your wallet, consult your current physician or schedule your first appointment with Elevated Health. We want to help answer any questions regarding lab work or general health concerns through a virtual or in-person appointment.