Vet called this morning with the exact charges for the EIC test.
$205
Let's see $65 to the U of Minn lab and $45 to Fed Ex. I'd say he made a little on that transaction...
Jeez....the students came to our FT and just did mouth swabs for free.....I had my dog done even though he was a golden....just for the heck of it.
Don't they do mouth swabs that you can send in yourself?
$100 to the vet
I used to work there. I know they save all the gel packs and boxes from the vaccines they purchase so that they can be re-used. So there was no cost there. And FedEx comes there to pick up the shipments.
I got charged $100 for 10 minutes of his time (at the most), a syringe and a 3ml purple top tube.
$100 to the vet
I used to work there. I know they save all the gel packs and boxes from the vaccines they purchase so that they can be re-used. So there was no cost there. And FedEx comes there to pick up the shipments.
I got charged $100 for 10 minutes of his time (at the most), a syringe and a 3ml purple top tube.
Seems high to me. On the other hand, it also seems to me that it would take more than 10 minutes to:
Read the instructions
Fill out the forms
Label the tubes
Prepare the syringe and tubes for use
Draw the blood
Package the samples and prepare for shipment
Notify FedEx of need for pickup (unless they pickup every day anyway)
Also, what is the cost of the syringe, the tube and the disposal cost for the needle?
Not saying $100 is appropriate, only that it adds up.
My Vet hasn't billed me yet but she told me that her fee would be $10. When she did the CNM test with swabs she didn't even charge me.....Next time plan to drive on down here and I'll make you an appointment.
He usually charges $40 for the office call and I figured $10 for the syringe and the tube. That seems fair.
All that and I prolly paid $20 gas just to get there and back home. I have a vet a couple of blocks away and she is very good. Gonna call to see how much they would charge...I have a couple more dogs to test.
Sherri call the vet you have the problem with, you said you use to work for him, you should be able to discuss this with him. Just ask for a fee breakdown, he should be willing to comply, if this is a new procedure to him, it may require a learning curve for him to understand that there may be many more in your area that need the test done also. bud
I realize you probably have a limited number of vet's in your area, but I would be on the phone with the vet giving them the opportunity to keep my business by crediting me back some of that money. $100 is just excessive. The vet didn't even see my dog, a tech took her into the back and brought her out 5 minutes later all done.
That's why I am probably going to end up drawing them myself and happy I am able to. I have saved containers, gel packs, and tubes unless I can get a reasonable quote.
So you can just heparinize it, put the blood in and send it off? They don't need to spin it down or anything? Good to know... I've been practicing drawing blood occasionally... I'm not too terribly good at it, but sounds like a good time to learn! LOL
The one thing not being considered is overhead. Everything costs more in Alaska. I would call him and discuss the fee before venting on the internet. A fair price is what a reasonable buyer is willing to pay and what a reasonable seller is willing to accept. To keep your business he may well discount the fee. As this is a new procedure he may have just thrown out a number as he was headed to deal with his next patient. It is partially your fault because you didn't ask what fees would be charged. Most of these disputes can easily be handled with a phone call and some polite conversation.
Mark,
The office visit was yesterday. The vet told me, "I'll call tomorrow with the amount." I got a call first thing this morning letting me know I owe $205.
In the span of 20 minutes, I paid for 2 puppies to be vaccinated. (Office call+ vaccine charge for each.) Then paid for Noodle's fees. I would think he could pay for his overhead easily with the other office calls scheduled for the rest of the hour.
I called to talk to him about the fees and was told by the office staff that that is the normal mark up.
This looks like the closest location to Alaska. Then after graduation maybe you'll have a different opinion as to what constitutes a fair and reasonable charge.
But the form doesn't ask for the Tech to verify the ID of the dog, it asks for the vet to verify....is says specifically, "To be completed by attending veterinarian:" Then there is a place to mark that, "I DID verify tatoo/microchip on this dog." or, "I DID NOT verify tattoo/microchip on this dog." followed by a signature line and date.
Not justifying $100 for 10 mins of a vets time... but there is way more than 10 mins of a vets time involved here. Probably cost them $15 in overhead just to check you in and check you out by the time you figure employee labor + burden, software, CC fees, etc... It will then cost another $15 to do the accounting on your transaction. Add into that occupying their building space, property, utilities, etc... and the vet likely cleared $40 for his 10 mins doing the work, 10+ mins reading your email, and 10+ mins communicating with staff regarding your case before and after you are gone. Assuming thats semi accurate, the vet is only profitting $60-$80 an hour. Thats awful low for a Dr of any kind.
Either way, i'd be pissed at spending $100 for it too!
Overhead is a real killer!!! If you are unhappy and they won't discuss it with you, then find a new vet. I agree that the fee sounds excessive but I don't write the checks for his payroll/rent/utilities.
In the company I own we do not have a high volume of customers but I would charge 70.00 for a paper bag full of air.
That said for a larger vet office with staff that can do most of the work it seems high. It may be the for for the pain in the azz of doing something out of the norm.
Just back from the vet. Had 2 dogs drawn for EIC. Costs were $65 x2 for the tests, $45 to overnight the blood, and $17 X2 to draw, fill out the paperwork and ship. So to have 2 dogs tested our total cost was $209.
I've spent more money at that clinic than I care to think about within the last 6 years and have never complained about a bill before. (Not even when I was charged $40 a pup for microchipping my last 2 litters.)
Just heard from the clinic down the street from me and they will charge me $160 (TOTAL)to do the EIC test and swab for CNM. Plus, I save $20 in gas. The vet who owns the clinic helped whelp Noodle's first litter at another clinic in town when she worked there. The first thing she asked was how Noodle was doing...Kinda impressed me that she would remember that.
I was just quoted $180.50 for the draw and ship plus the $65.00 for the U of M. Thats $245.50 for a ten minute blood draw! Add on the CNM, CERF, and OFA and were deep in the hole before a single puppy is born.
It's simple really, find out, up front, what the charge is going to be and make your determination based on that.
Guessing what your going to get charged is bound to be disapointing.
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