Dear Editor:

At the risk of being labeled a troublemaker, I am compelled to write and warn local ETMC patients unsuspecting of the tremendous expenses incurred when they go to ETMC for lab work and are told to go to ETMC hospital lab instead.

After going for routine labs at the hospital as instructed, charges for my lab work jumped more than 900 percent from what I paid for the exact same three lab analyses only seven months earlier, when it was drawn at the clinic and sent out to an independent lab.

After multiple conversations and meetings with insurance reps and ETMC administration, my bill was reduced by half (ONLY if I came and paid within 10 days), which is still more than a 450 percent increase from the prior lab. The reason, my insurance company explains, is because it was done at the hospital instead of the clinic, and hospitals contracted rate is much higher. I did go pay the hospital, but have contacted the Better Business Bureau, who says I have a legitimate claim and also sent me forms to file a complaint with Texas Department of Health Services.

Today I was advised by hospital and clinic personnel that it is no longer an option to have your ETMC labs sent out for analysis. So you might want to check with your insurance company the next time before you have lab work done in Fairfield. According to comparisons with ETMC personnel who admit they have had numerous inquiries about recent lab charges, it seems that retired teachers who participate in the TRS Care state insurance coverage are among the most affected by this change at ETMC. Anyone having diabetes or other chronic health problems requiring lab analyses on a regular basis could incur a huge debt in just one year at ETMC, even without complications.

To be fair to ETMC hospital, I must admit that the level of care was excellent when my health problems required trips to the ER over the last several years, and I certainly have no complaints about the level of care at the lab now. My concern is the excessive charges that could have been avoided if I had only known prior to my last visit for required blood work. Hopefully, others will now know to check with their insurance companies before going to the hospital for lab appointments.
Sincerely,
Sandi Nitcholas
Fairfield

* * * * * Dear Editor:

Recently I experienced one of my greatest disappointments. I decided to return to my home state and fulfill a lifetime dream of owning a Texas ranch. I found the most charming place with an unusual cabin. I immediately requested an inspection of the property by a professional Real Estate inspector. It was necessary for me to return to my home and business, and I did have a personal realtor and an attorney to act in my behalf.

Feeling excited and with the greatest confidence in the judgement of the hired professionals to make sure that I would be dealt fairly, I proceeded to find ways to hurry back to my new "Texas Ranch."

Many faxes and legal documents, a lot of duplications, impressive and confusing, were sent, most superfluous, totally uncessary. Not until the recent flood when I stepped from my bed in the early morning hour into a puddle of muddy water, did I miss the report from the Real Estate inspector.

Neither my attorney, nor his secretary could recall having seen the report. I called the realtor and immediately she faxed me a copy. Three years have passed, I have done a lot of work removing concrete and repairing obvious problems, never suspecting the most damaging ones of all. They are listed on the report. It would have been much simpler to have had these problems resolved when I had equipment here for the other problems.

Honesty and truthfulness is a great slogan, and a good way to live.
Mary Simpson
Streetman