Bood (And Why A Simple Test is a Major Hassle)

As many folks know, the sister closest in age to me, we'll call her Tallula, has FSGS, an idiopathic kidney disease. She is rapidly heading toward ERD (end-stage renal disease) or total kidney failure. She needs a transplant. Both my parents and there first three live birth children are A+ blood type. They always assumed Tallula and I were also A+. When this saga began, we found out Tallula is O- blood type. Thus, we need to figure out what blood type I am to see if I'm even in the running to be a live kidney donor. An immediate biological family member is usually the best match for organ donation. And here is where my hassle for something so simple has begun...

First, I called the Mayo Clinic where my sister is being treated. They will not type my blood until my sister is official in kidney failure and on the donor list. Obviously, our family is starting the donor search as soon as possible, even though ERD might not happen for weeks, months, or (unlikely) years. Mayo Clinic suggested I call my family doctor or donate blood to a blood back, because when you donate blood they type you.

I am not eligible to donate blood because of recent tattoos.

My family doctor (who is the most marvelous doctor ever), wrote out the orders to have my blood typed. However, she warned me that many insurance providers do not cover this test, as it is rather expensive and usually seen as "unnecessary." She suggested I check with my insurance provider.

I called my insurance provider, and the customer service agent, while lovely, had no idea what "blood typing" even meant or how to check to see if it is covered. I explained, briefly. She found one result in her computer called "TYPING ABO." I told her this is probably what I want. Apparently the main "coding" 86900 is covered by my insurance. But TYPING ABO can also have the modifier coding 86900-26, and this is not covered. She couldn't tell me the difference. She suggested I simply go to the Mayo Clinic and have them type my blood.

I told the insurance customer service agent the Mayo Clinic told me to call me doctor who told me to call the insurance.

It seems very simple: draw my blood, type it. A family member's life is on the line. As for immediate family members, I'm the last option. Type my damn blood. Pay the damn $300+ dollars. In the world of managed care, apparently no one is quite sure if someone else's life is word $300.