Virulent TB Case Rings Up Steep Bill
INDIANA: "Virulent TB Case Rings Up Steep Bill" - Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne) (01.25.12): Vivian Sade.A multidrug-resistant TB case discovered last month in Allen County will cost the state and county an estimated $250,000 in medication alone, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Board of Health was told on Monday. The MDR TB infection was found in a Fort Wayne Community Schools student, who is now in isolation and receiving treatment. Nearly 150 students potentially exposed have been screened for TB, and no other active case has been identified.
“The health department is in the process of evaluating the results of the first round of testing and will repeat the process in eight weeks,” said Dr. Deborah McMahan, health commissioner.
The treatment cost estimate is on the high side, noted John Silcox, the Department of Health’s spokesperson. It includes $200,000 from the state for one year of treatment for the six main medications. The county will pick up $50,000 for two years’ worth of additional medications.
“We attempt to tap into any available insurance or resources, but with this case, neither is available,” said Silcox. “It’s unfortunate because this happens to be a case where the treatment is more expensive because of the nature of the TB.”
Other costs are difficult to estimate, Silcox said. “Depending on whether the patient becomes eligible for Medicaid and whether any surgery is necessary, it will likely be a minimum of $40,000 to $50,000 and a maximum of $50,000 to $115,000,” he said.
“It’s frustrating, because in some way, shape or form the taxpayer bears a substantial burden in this case,” said Joseph Steensma, the board’s chair. “If we had three such cases instead of one, it would be our entire budget for the year.”
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health’s TB hotline is 260-449-8739.
