Anonymous wrote:I want to premise my question with saying that DD plans to talk to the billing department today. My question is more related to whether or not this is standard practice....or just a money grab. I think it's the latter.
DD (just graduated college, now out of state) went to urgent care for gastro issues. Was handed a cup for urine test. DD asked what the purpose of the urine test was, aid responded "it's just routine stuff". DD gets her urgent care bill and there's a charge on the bill for $37 for a pregnancy test which she did not ask for, nor authorize. Is this standard practice? I would think that something like a pregnancy test would have to be authorized by the patient. DD answered all of the questions on the intake form including "is there a chance you might be pregnant?", she answered "No". Sounds to me like an easy way for clinics and doctors to make money, hoping that most patients don't look at their bills or perhaps overlook it thinking it's standard procedure.
The routine reason to test a cup of pee from a woman over 13 is pregnancy test. Are you a man, to not know this? There's always a pregnancy test. You don't have to authorize them to give you a pregnancy test and they likely cannot treat you effectively without it, because many medications are contraindicated for pregnancy.
When I was in high school if you rolled your ankle in basketball practice the trainer would give you a pregnancy test.