Scorpion sting leaves Arizona woman with huge bill

CHANDLER, AZ - An Arizona woman is wondering what hurt more: Getting stung by a scorpion or seeing her hospital bill after treatment.

Marcie Edmonds says she was billed for more than $83,000 by Chandler Regional Medical Center. That included nearly $40,000 per dose of anti-venom.

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.