Drop your monthly testing average here please.

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Hey Y’all! 

I haven’t been in the monitoring program very long and I’m tryIng to get an idea on what I need to budget for testing. I recently had 2 tests in 3 day, with one being a specialty test that was pricey. Now I haven’t had to test in almost 2 weeks. Just wanted to make sure this is normal. It’s not a big deal as I am sober and have been for a long time, Im just hoping to get a grasp on what a normalish month of testing is like. I’m seeing in other posts it can pick up around holidays and end dates, but haven’t found much info about those years (?) in the middle. Thanks! 

I'm in the same program as you. Averages 3 to 4 times a month. The middle years it was 3x/month more often than 4, but the early years it was usually 4 and this last stretch it's increasing again and they are throwing curveballs, such as specialty tests I've never seen before in over 4.5 years, and a bunch of various ones. I'm stone cold completely sober and compliant since day 1, so it doesn't matter to me outside of time/finances, but it is interesting to see all these new codes. Oh, and for funsies, they started requiring some random observed urines my last year, out of nowhere, for no reason. Usually at least one observed every other month at minimum now, just an heads up for future you. Strip from the waist down, twirl, squat, pee. Nothing surprises me anymore, tbh.

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Specializes in ED RN and Case Manager.

I “graduated” a couple years ago from KY’s KARE program. I had saved a copy of my Affinity result log &  pulled it up to answer your question. (By “result log”, I just mean the dates of the tests & the vague “positive” or “negative” result). 
As far as testing frequency- it varied. First year, I had a total of 24 tests at exactly 2 per month. Program Year totals: 2 (23 tests); 3 (18 tests);  4 (19 tests); and  5 (20 tests).  In years 2-5, I usually tested 2x/month but sometimes once per month. The final 6 months of the program I had a couple of months with testing 3x/month. 

The frequency was random-  I had 40 days between tests- and also had 5 days between tests. 

I only had one blood test. The rest were urine. No hair tests.
 The price for the majority of UDS’s was $41.50 (plus a collection site fee of $15-$20, depending on where I went ). I would also have about 4/year @ $65. (I’m  guessing the $65.00 also tested etg). 

It was very obvious that the frequency increased the final 6 months of my 5th year. I had just gone about 4 months in a row with 20-35 days between tests & my bank account was SO appreciating the rest ? - then…  BAM! I had a spell of something like 6 tests in 7 weeks, with only 5-7 days between a few of them! When I asked my CM, she said it was very common for Affinity to increase the frequency towards the end of the program to ensure compliance. 
My checking account did not like being woken up from it’s nap! ? ??

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Hi All:)

So, I am new to this too...how are you billed? 

Do you have to pay at time of testing?

Thanks,

Kathy

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Specializes in dialysis, critical care.
1 hour ago, Kathymrs said:

Hi All:)

So, I am new to this too...how are you billed? 

Do you have to pay at time of testing?

Thanks,

Kathy

sorry you have to join the club LOL. it sucks but you get used to it. you are billed monthly on the same date each month. they will automatically charge the previous month’s tests on that date.  as long as I go to a Labcorp, I pay no collection fee at time of test.  just pay the 41 dollars for that test next month automatically. I’m only about a year in a 3 year program unfortunately so it’ll be a lot more money to come. 

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Specializes in ED RN and Case Manager.

My program (KARE) used  Affinity for testing. Payment for the UDS was through them. People do things differently. Some pay their account at the time of testing. I was worried something big could financially hurt me (BESIDES TESTING) & I would not have the $$ someday. So whenever I received my tax refund each year, I always deposited about $600-$800 into my Affinity Account so I wouldn’t stress about finances. When balance would start dropping as the year progressed, I’d start adding $100-$150 here & there. 
The clinic I used for testing wasn’t through Labcorp so I had to pay the $15 - $20 collection fee at the time I was tested. 

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Average over the last 22 months: $180. In NJ you get 3 urine tests a month with the occasional blood test thrown in at random. Recently they added to option to do saliva instead for which you get 2 a month rather than 3, but the test itself is more expensive. 

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I found out that the fee will come out of my account on the same day each month for prior month, at $68 a pop:(

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Specializes in SNF/rehabilitation.

Hello, my order states I will have "no less than 49 screens per year". I average one per week but I have had 3 in one week before. I've also had one blood test.  I've never been tested on a holiday or a weekend.  

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.

I typically get two urine test per month and then every three months a blood test in addition to the two urines.  This past month, however, people in my support group have been getting a urine screen that is $138 and I was selected for one today.  The test requisition says it is for panel 764550 (which is our standard test in FL) plus 791975.  No idea what the difference is.  And it should be my blood test month so I don’t know if I’ll also get hit next week with a $110 blood test. Ugh.  Money, money, money.

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I was selected for a UDS on Tuesday and Thursday last week:(

What a money racket...

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Specializes in SNF/rehabilitation.

I've been selected on a M, W, and F before! 

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My contract ended 12/7 (not released yet, waiting for the board) and last month, I was tested 5 times in 3 weeks. It definitely ramps up at the end. 

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