Just who pays for the tests is still a matter of contention.
When a physician orders a test to pinpoint the best antibiotic to treat a patient, the cost can be charged to the patient or insurance,
Who will bear the cost of screening hospital patients is less clear, said Ms. Kalavik.
“Most hospitals absorb the cost of these programs,” she said, but “starting Jan. 1, 2007, new CPT codes have been instituted that allow for hospitals to be reimbursed approximately $49 for screening outpatients to see if they are positive for MRSA.”
From a research point of view, widespread use of tests to detect S. aureus and MRSA could better characterize the incidence of infections and their hosts. For example, “there may be three to four body surface areas more likely to be harboring S. aureus, along with nasal carriage,” Dr. Pittelkow said.
These tests would be useful when patients have serious disorders that could be exacerbated by a delay in treatment. DR. PITTELKOW