J
JenniferO
Okay, I have another decision to make and I am about worn out with them, so I ask your help once again.
I am trying to decide if it is worth going through the hassle and expense of an autologous blood donation (reserving your own blood in case you need it during or after surgery). Dr. Cosgrove would allow me to donate just one unit which must be done no closer than 3-4 weeks before the surgery. The local hospitals won't do it unless you are having surgery at the hospital. So, there is a very nice lady at the Red Cross who has done some legwork and says they can draw the blood for me and ship it to the Columbus, Ohio Red Cross who has a supplier contract with Cleveland Clinic and can deliver my blood to the Clinic. In this way, I don't have to pay for the Red Cross services up front - estimated at $300 - but they will be passed down the pipeline to Cleveland Clinic and come out with the rest of my surgical bills. My guess is that this is an item not covered by insurance. If I could have used a local hospital facility I might have been able to get one of my insurances to cover it, but with the Red Cross handling it, I know my primary won't cover it because they're not a network facility. Not sure about my secondary Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Cleveland Clinic is a BC/BS provider but I have doubts the autologous blood donation is a "covered" procedure. $300 isn't pocket change to me, especially with all the other costs we are going to be paying--travel, etc.
The mitral valve repair procedure usually does NOT require blood transfusion - 80% of cases at Cleveland Clinic do not receive blood. So, I may be going to expense and trouble for nothing! I originally looked into this because my mother was hysterical about the fear of HIV etc. if I needed blood.
Your thoughts, anyone? I'm too exhausted and anxious to think straight at this point.
We made our air line reservations and hotel reservations for Cleveland this last week, so guess there's no turning back now!
Jennifer
I am trying to decide if it is worth going through the hassle and expense of an autologous blood donation (reserving your own blood in case you need it during or after surgery). Dr. Cosgrove would allow me to donate just one unit which must be done no closer than 3-4 weeks before the surgery. The local hospitals won't do it unless you are having surgery at the hospital. So, there is a very nice lady at the Red Cross who has done some legwork and says they can draw the blood for me and ship it to the Columbus, Ohio Red Cross who has a supplier contract with Cleveland Clinic and can deliver my blood to the Clinic. In this way, I don't have to pay for the Red Cross services up front - estimated at $300 - but they will be passed down the pipeline to Cleveland Clinic and come out with the rest of my surgical bills. My guess is that this is an item not covered by insurance. If I could have used a local hospital facility I might have been able to get one of my insurances to cover it, but with the Red Cross handling it, I know my primary won't cover it because they're not a network facility. Not sure about my secondary Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Cleveland Clinic is a BC/BS provider but I have doubts the autologous blood donation is a "covered" procedure. $300 isn't pocket change to me, especially with all the other costs we are going to be paying--travel, etc.
The mitral valve repair procedure usually does NOT require blood transfusion - 80% of cases at Cleveland Clinic do not receive blood. So, I may be going to expense and trouble for nothing! I originally looked into this because my mother was hysterical about the fear of HIV etc. if I needed blood.
Your thoughts, anyone? I'm too exhausted and anxious to think straight at this point.
We made our air line reservations and hotel reservations for Cleveland this last week, so guess there's no turning back now!
Jennifer
