5.01.2020

Testing and Covid-19

Ok, so I read an article on NPR talking about how some people are getting billed for being tested for Covid-19. Which should be free. (btw, it ended up being corrected, but it's still scary how this can happen and can still)

So I was curious and my health provider has this on their website:












What is interesting is that I literally have Meritus Health that I can get tested at, 2 locations, each within 3-5 miles of where I live.

Back story. A family member who lives in the house had to get tested, due to have a fever for a day and cough. Family member goes to Meritus as the following listed:

Meritus Health Expands COVID-19 Testing for the Community
Meritus Health is now offering COVID-19 testing to all residents showing symptoms as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Fever greater than 100.5 degrees and/or a dry cough, shortness of breath or sore throat.
No appointments or referrals are needed to be tested.

So family member got tested, was told the next evening it was positive and the following steps to take. I tell my employer, have to call the corporate nurse. I was told to call my PCP, because work would like me tested, but to get guidance from my PCP. My PCP says they do not give out referrals or orders and to call the Covid hotline, because they had no guidance for me. I call the hotline and tell them my employer wants me tested and they are like, 'unless you have symptoms, nope'. To which I tell my employer. Luckily I am still symptom free.
Anyway, back to my healthcare. I was curious to see what they have on their website (and yes, I get that they can only do so many updates? And assume they have a lot of data to be updated and are probably behind...but still...)

  1. 1

    WellSpan Health-Franklin County

    • Monday
      24 Hours
    •  
    • Tuesday
      24 Hours
    •  
    • Wednesday
      24 Hours
    •  
    • Thursday
      24 Hours
    •  
    • Friday
      24 Hours
    •  
    • Saturday
      24 Hours
    •  
    • Sunday
      24 Hours
    12.31 miles away
    Phone: (877) 724-3258
    501 East Main Street
    Waynesboro, PA 17268
    Notes: Testing sites may require preregistration or a doctor's script in order for a test to be taken, so please check with your health care provider before going to the testing locations.
  2. 2

    Berkeley Medical Center

    • Monday
      10am-4pm
    •  
    • Tuesday
      10am-4pm
    •  
    • Wednesday
      10am-4pm
    •  
    • Thursday
      10am-4pm
    •  
    • Friday
      10am-4pm
    •  
    • Saturday
      10am-4pm
    •  
    • Sunday
      10am-4pm
    16.74 miles away
    Phone: (304) 598-6000
    2500 Hospital Dr
    Martinsburg, WV 25401
    • Provider Order required
    Notes: When calling select option 4
  3. 3

    MedExpress Urgent Care Martinsburg

    • Monday
      8am-6pm
    •  
    • Tuesday
      8am-6pm
    •  
    • Wednesday
      8am-6pm
    •  
    • Thursday
      8am-6pm
    •  
    • Friday
      8am-6pm
    •  
    • Saturday
      8am-6pm
    •  
    • Sunday
      8am-6pm
    18.71 miles away
    Phone: (204) 264-9730
    83 Retail Commons Parkway
    Martinsburg, WV 25403
    • Drive-up Available
Those are the first 3 locations listed for me to be tested, if I needed to be, per their site. And this Provider Order required BS? I mean, my PCP said they have yet to do that and that they do not do that. So, if I needed to be tested, it's obvious Meritus is way ahead of the curve and probably has better funding to get tested in my local community. Whereas my PCP was somewhat clueless and my insurance doesn't have local resources.

In the article, it had some key phrasing: "The law prohibits insurers from charging patients for testing, but it does not block medical providers from doing so" (NPR, 2020).

Which is kinda evil with what is going on.

Just be aware of what you are responsible for and be prepared. All of this is probably still evolving, but damn.


4.29.2020

Just...waiting

So my niece got tested yesterday for Covid-19, because she had a fever for over 24 hours, some coughing and a sore throat. And if she's sick, which I honestly hope she's not and it's just a regular flu or something, because otherwise *I* am sick. And I do not want to be sick. I hate being sick. Being sick sucks. At least so far she has been sleeping through most of it. I hope IF she is sick, it's mild. I also hope that if/when I do get this, then I hope it's as mild.

This whole thing is just so stressful. Work is still work thankfully, still pretty busy with that, though some days more so than others. Right now it's hard to focus and work is the most helpful with keeping focused.

I need to read a book. And crochet more. And maybe at some point finish the book I had started writing a decade ago (with some rewrites no doubt). I need to clean my house, paint the walls, get rid of the things I don't need

Mostly, I need to step up my game on prepping my house for selling. I am looking forward to a change.