Pathology tissue test after Breast revision

You should submit your insurance information to UCLA because it will probably be covered.  I agree that 200 to 300 is typical and 1700 seems exorbitant.  If you can't get insurance to cover it you should be able to bargain the bill down significantly.

Hello,There is a state law about sending all body tissue to pathology. This is an antiquated law, and does not serve or protect the patient. It is the equivalent of making every patient that happens to enter the hospital have a body CT scan. It's wasteful, and saves few if any lives.I would call the pathologist and ask for a cash (non insurance) price.Best of luck!

Sending tissue to pathology is very common/standard but that kind of price is unusual.  I would speak with the lab directly and ask them to discount your fee or work with your insurance.  Best of luck to you

especially if it will burden them with more costs.  If the State would pay for this, then it wouldn't matter but because they are burdening you with more costs, it should be your decision, the same as the cancer patient who refuses to have chemotherapy.  Standard procedures should be reviewed with you before entering the operating room.And I know of no standard pathology that costs that much... but it could be what they charge insurance companies but insurance companies have their agreed upon reimbursement.   Your surgeon's estimates sound much more realistic.  So you can ask your surgeon for proof that it was required of him to submit the tissue and if it was more hospital requirement, then they should pay for it.  Otherwise, you can ask the pathologists for a cash fee or more commonly, pay the insurance contracted reimbursement fee that your insurance company has negotiated with them if your deductibles have not yet been met.  In the end, it should not cost anything close to that for a standard gross and microscopic exam.

For a routine implant exchange, it is uncommon to biopsy or remove breast tissue. However, if any breast tissue is removed (like for a lift/ capsulectomy/ reduction) it is standard procedure to send this tissue for pathological examination. You may want to call your doctors office manager and ask her to review the bill or call the hospital billing company directly and ask them to review the charges. Your insurance may also possibly cover the costs of the breast tissue biopsy.