Texas radiologist Naveed Khan, MD, was badly injured when an all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, landed on his left arm. He was transported 108 miles via helicopter by Air Evac Lifeteam to a trauma center for surgery in Fort Worth—and later, his arm was amputated. He was also left with a $56,603 bill for an air ambulance flight, reported Kaiser Health News (KHN).
While Khan’s insurer, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of Texas paid $11,972, he still has to pay the remainder of the bill. The actual price of the ride, KHN noted, is $11,000, but a spokeswoman from the company said they bill at a higher price to make up for “meager payments” from Medicare and Medicaid.
Khan and BCBS are negotiating with Air Evac Lifeteam over the remaining balance, though he may appeal to the state’s Department of Insurance.
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As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.