Ask which tests you need and why
This does not mean you can skip tests. Ask which tests your own care needs and why.
This group represents medical licensing boards. Its model policy is guidance rather than a national law.
Ask why a test is being proposed
A small organ located in your neck is called the thyroid. The label says it is unclear whether regular blood tests or an ultrasound scan of this organ help find a rare thyroid cancer early. An ultrasound is a scan that uses sound waves to make a picture inside the body.
Price the test and the work around it
Advertised lab packages in a small sample included different sets of tests. Some prices left out an extra doctor’s fee.
- Which tests are included in this quote?
- Is the blood draw or ordering fee separate?
- Who explains the results?
- Would a visit to discuss the result carry another fee?
Those were advertised prices for paying without insurance. Your insurance plan may have different prices.
Keep the result connected to care
Before arranging a test, ask where the result will go and who will review it with you. Keep the order and the billing explanation together, so the test does not become a loose end.