A woman in Virginia was asked to pay $400 upfront for an EpiPen while experiencing anaphylactic shock from a wasp sting, according to a report by KFF Health News.
Stephanie Rowell, 53, was stung by a wasp in July, and her condition quickly worsened, causing her arm to become red and itchy, with effects spreading to her face. While en route to an emergency room, her father stopped at a TruHealthNow urgent care facility in Purcellville, Virginia.
A nurse practitioner diagnosed Rowell with anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, and determined she needed an epinephrine shot. According to KFF Health News, a medical assistant informed Rowell that the dose would cost $400 out-of-pocket. Rowell, who was uninsured, paid the fee before receiving the injection.
The total cost included $400 for the epinephrine, $45 for its administration, and $165 for the visit. Rowell expressed concern about the policy, asking if she would have been left to die if she couldn't afford the payment, to which she was told it was the facility's policy.
TruHealthNow CEO Preet Takhar told KFF Health News that their policy is to administer the shot and address payment later. However, Manbir Takhar, TruHealthNow's Medical Director, stated that Rowell was asked for payment first because she was considered "stable."
TruHealthNow operates several privately owned healthcare facilities in Virginia and Maryland. Rowell reportedly was not concerned about the price itself, but rather the requirement to pay before receiving essential medical treatment during a critical health emergency.