Chandler Regional Hospital agrees to adjust costly scorpion bill

CHANDLER, AZ - A Chandler hospital has agreed to help a Chandler woman who said she was billed for more than $83,000 by the hospital for treatment she received to treat a scorpion sting.

Marcie Edmonds said the $83,000 she owed the hospital included a nearly $40,000 per dose of anti-venom.

Chandler Regional Hospital said in a release Wednesday:

"We sincerely apologize for any distress Ms. Edmonds has experienced over the cost of her emergency treatment at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Our Patient Financial Services team is working directly with Ms. Edmonds to adjust the high out-of-network cost of the Anascorp antivenom she received."

The Arizona Republic says Edmonds' insurer has paid Chandler Regional more than $57,000 and the hospital has asked Edmonds for the balance of about $25,000.

The 52-year-old Ahwatukee Foothills resident was stung in June while opening a box of air-conditioner filters in her garage.

Edmonds says an emergency room doctor told her about the Mexican-made anti-venom Anascorp that could quickly relieve her symptoms, but she was never told about the cost of the drug.

Chandler Regional says Edmonds' charges represented the out-of-network costs for her treatment.