Posted on Apr 27, 2023
She was pregnant and had to find $15,000 overnight to save her twins
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/04/27/ [login to see] /she-was-pregnant-and-had-to-find-15-000-overnight-to-save-her-twins
It was Labor Day weekend 2021 when Sara Walsh, who was 24 weeks pregnant with twins, began to experience severe lower back pain.
On Wednesday, a few days later, a maternal-fetal specialist near her home in Winter Haven, Florida, diagnosed Walsh with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare complication that occurs when multiple fetuses share blood unevenly through the same placenta. The doctor told her that the fetuses were experiencing cardiac issues and that she should prepare for treatment the following day, Walsh said.
Her OB-GYN told her that, without immediate surgery, her twins had a high chance of perinatal death and she could also die.
Both doctors referred Walsh to a fetal surgeon about four hours away, describing him as an expert on the condition.
As Walsh prepared to leave, she received a call from the surgeon's practice, the Fetal Institute. Walsh said a billing representative told her that before Dr. Ruben Quintero would see her, she needed to pay in full for the consultation, surgery, and postoperative care — a total estimate of $15,000.
It was Labor Day weekend 2021 when Sara Walsh, who was 24 weeks pregnant with twins, began to experience severe lower back pain.
On Wednesday, a few days later, a maternal-fetal specialist near her home in Winter Haven, Florida, diagnosed Walsh with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare complication that occurs when multiple fetuses share blood unevenly through the same placenta. The doctor told her that the fetuses were experiencing cardiac issues and that she should prepare for treatment the following day, Walsh said.
Her OB-GYN told her that, without immediate surgery, her twins had a high chance of perinatal death and she could also die.
Both doctors referred Walsh to a fetal surgeon about four hours away, describing him as an expert on the condition.
As Walsh prepared to leave, she received a call from the surgeon's practice, the Fetal Institute. Walsh said a billing representative told her that before Dr. Ruben Quintero would see her, she needed to pay in full for the consultation, surgery, and postoperative care — a total estimate of $15,000.
She was pregnant and had to find $15,000 overnight to save her twins
Posted from npr.org
Pregnancy
Medical
Health
Economics
Posted >1 y ago
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When my twins were born @ Ft Bragg -- many moons ago -- they had to be transported to a NICU off-post. CHAMPUS at the time did not cover the $500K treatment they incurred. This buck SGT had to take on a second job and petition the system for change. The debt was just another hurdle in life to overcome. The treatments are now covered by TRICARE.
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