Lab pricing changes to watch for

Re: Lab pricing changes to watch for

James Laidlaw — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:54:53 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]Did they give any explanation as to why it's changed?[/quote]

No, just that it had, and there was nothing to be done about it.

Re: Lab pricing changes to watch for

James Laidlaw — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:54:19 GMT

I was trying to request an additional T4 on a PU/PD profile that was thought to be included by a colleague, but turned out wasn't - £6 as add on, and I think around 17-19 instead. Bit of a shock from what I've always done, with not much warning as far as I'm aware...

Re: Lab pricing changes to watch for

Rob Loxley — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:48:37 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]told that the add-on prices are not valid and will be full charge. [/quote]

Did they give any explanation as to why it's changed?

[/quote]

Maybe Graham Bilborough could give the answer, but I'd guess there are extra costs in running extra tests at a later date (answering the phone, retrieving the sample, updating the interpretation etc.) as well as just running the test? For most of the tests the difference in price is modest, but it still requires having two prices on the system (and making sure the correct one is charged).

However I'm not quite sure why interepretation/advice costs £6 if requested when the sample is submitted or £7.50 if I request it at a later date? Maybe the £1.50 (+vat) is for the person who answers the phone to put me through to the pathologist?

Re: Lab pricing changes to watch for

Utlendigur — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:02:05 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]told that the add-on prices are not valid and will be full charge. [/quote]

Did they give any explanation as to why it's changed? I was just about to update our service codes to include the non-interpreted profiles and add-ons but I don't think I'll bother - too confusing.

Not been very impressed with idexx so far this year - eg had a very anaemic cat where the EDTA sample clotted but from the smear the interpretation was "haemorrhage, no features of haemolysis" which obviously affected the work up/tx. Repeat EDTA taken next day came back with the interpretation of almost certainly haemolysis (immune mediated) . Unfortunately over a weekend so I'd taken it off preds as I was worried re GI haemorrhage given the first report. Cat died. Plus they billed us twice for the haematology despite me quoting previous reference and putting a note on form. Then charged us twice for the add-on tests also. Plus another where they failed to match up a urine sample with the accompanying blood sample and charged them separately...

Re: Lab pricing changes to watch for

Rob Loxley — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:34:03 GMT

And they have tightened up on charging for profile interpretation when a non-interpreted profile is requested (and the price is more than if you request interpretation at the time of submission). I can see why, but has entailed adding yet more prices to our system