Cost Considerations in Diagnostic Testing- Managing Care for an Uninsured Patient

Cost Considerations in Diagnostic Testing- Managing Care for an Uninsured Patient

Diagnostic Testing and Cost Considerations

Given Karen’s symptoms of abdominal pain and history consistent with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the main diagnostic test I would order is a complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia or infection (Ruwa, 2023; Villines, 2021). A CBC costs an average of $100 without insurance (MDsave). Additionally, I may consider a hydrogen breath test ($129) or stool test ($166) to rule out small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or celiac disease if her symptoms do not improve with initial IBS treatment. The total estimated cost of these tests is $395. If Karen lacks health insurance, paying out of pocket could be a financial burden and impact her ability to access needed care. Knowing the costs upfront would likely lead me to start with more affordable basic labs before considering additional specialized testing. However, a lack of insurance would not change my overall management approach. Lifestyle interventions and dietary changes remain essential first steps in treating IBS. I would counsel Karen on free or low-cost resources to support recommended therapies like stress reduction and increased fiber intake.

Adjusting Care Plans for Social Determinants

If Karen is experiencing food insecurity or homelessness, it would significantly impact my ability to carry out the standard IBS management plan (Goates et al., 2023). When patients have access to nutrient-dense meals and secure housing, they may make dietary alterations and exercise self-care. I would first ascertain Karen’s eligibility for social assistance before creating a treatment plan, and I would then give easy-to-acquire therapy like probiotics and mindfulness meditation priority. Putting her in contact with any nearby resources that may be of assistance, such as food pantries and emergency shelters, would be my priority. Cell stress is only one of the factors that contribute to anxiety. On top of that, I would suggest that she see a mental health professional. Personalizing treatment plans that meet the documented requirements while barring the existence of obstacles in this manner is an indispensable part of equitable and patient-oriented care. Even if the guidelines applied in my work are universal, the dispensing of these guidelines should go through a careful filter for the marginalized population. Seeing the social part means that one needs to analyze and synchronize different management techniques instead of applying the same ones throughout.

The final item is to take the diagnostic costs into account to prevent putting the patients under additional stressors. The science of health insurance may have an effect on access to care, but the basic concept of evidence-based therapy will accommodate the change. If we cut short of the social determinant of the health of our patients with inadequate money and a stingy supply of foodstuffs and shelter, this makes it complex for us to comprehend their needs while working closely with them and ease treatment plans.

References

Goates, M. C., Leffler, T., Kenneth, N., Wu, C., Dall, A., Hansen, C., & M. Lelinneth B. Novilla. (2023). Integrating social care into healthcare: A review on applying the social determinants of health in clinical settings. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(19), 6873–6873. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196873

Ruwa, R. (2023, May 22). IBS and Anemia: How one can lead to the other, symptoms. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/ibs/ibs-and-anemia

Villines, Z. (2021, December 23). Anemia and IBS: What to know. Www.medicalnewstoday.com. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ibs-and-

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Reflection:
Address the following questions:
Which diagnostic tests did you select for this client? Using the estimated national average cost for each diagnostic test from a website such as MD save links to an external site. calculate the total cost for diagnostic testing for this client if she was uninsured. How might this information change your decision to order diagnostic tests for the client? Would lack of insurance change your management plan? Why or why not?

Cost Considerations in Diagnostic Testing- Managing Care for an Uninsured Patient

How would you alter your management plan for this client if she was experiencing food insecurity or lack of housing?
Include the following components:
write 150-300 words in a Microsoft Word document
demonstrate clinical judgment appropriate to the virtual patient scenario
cite at least one relevant scholarly source as defined by program expectations
communicate with minimal errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation