How much?

Ever wonder how much it costs to have an organ removed? While I was trapped on the Oregon Coast this week by the storm of the year, I received my statement of hospital services bill for my half of the kidney transplant. I always find it so interesting to pour over medical/hospital invoices; it’s shocking to see how much medical procedures cost.

My pre surgery CT scan cost a little more than $1,000, the ‘nephrology consult’ the day before surgery was pretty cheap at just over $300. And then there were costs associated with the surgery itself. My hospital stay from Friday through Monday was nearly $5,000, my pharmacy bill and medical supply fees were nearly $1,500, my x-rays and anthesia came in just over $500. They even added a charge to my stay for spending time in the recovery room for just over $1,200. My actual kidney nephrectomy cost just under $7,500. When everything is said and done, my total charge comes to a whopping $19,344.00 Gulp – and remember that doesn’t include Anna’s costs. My procedure was a fairly simple kidney removal, she had other fees associated with her stay that I did not incur. She stayed in the hospital longer, had to have three days worth of anti-rejection medication administration onsite at the hospital and she still returns to the hospital every other day for lab work to ensure everything is functioning as it should.

I feel like one of those Mastercard commercials:
Gas from Portland to Seattle: $50
Pre-surgery hotel room: $200
Kidney nephrectomy: $19,344
Seeing your best friend healthy for the first time in years: priceless