The real money saving is in limiting hospitals like UAB for max reimbursement. In 2016 I was first in the state to have an infusion gout treatment at approximately $38,000 every 2 weeks taking 26 treatments. It essentially was a 200cc of drug diffused with 1 IV over 4 hours.
The same treatment today 2025 at UAB cost approximately $68,000 every 2 weeks. Typical treatment duration is 2 years.
I can have the exact same treatment in Auburn at my rhumatologist office / clinic for $38,000 every 2 weeks.
The only difference is overhead.
It is such a waste. Medicare should require the cheaper of the treatments. Medicare could pay mileage, food and lodging and even supplemental of a $100 bucks for travel miscellaneous. That one patient alone would save all of us approximately $56,000 a month for 24 months so over 1 million dollars.
Please note that in 2017 I canceled my 2nd year of treatment at UAB even though I was in the least pain in decades because I did not believe the treatment was curing me ( about 10% it does not). I was preapproved for the 2nd year but I felt it was to great a cost to all of us. Blue Cross does not care that I saved them the 20% copayment. They still bust my balls over any penny they can make claim for no reimbursement.
