Table 3. Medicare reimbursement rate for blood tests for occult causes of initially idiopathic SFPN (iiSFPN).
The most cost-effective tests for screening (< $250 per one abnormal result) are highlighted in green, and tests with moderate screening costs (> $250 but < $500 per one abnormal result) are highlighted in yellow. Red highlighting indicates the least cost-effective tests (> $500 per one abnormal result). Fasting glucose and 2-hour OGTT to detect diabetes are not included since no patients had abnormal results thus screening costs would be infinite.
| Blood test | Cost per one test | More prevalent in iiSFPN | Screening cost per one abnormal result |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESR | $3.69 | YES | $13.17 |
| Fasting glucose to detect prediabetes | $5.36 | NO | $21.44 |
| Triglycerides | $7.84 | NO | $31.74 |
| ACE | $19.92 | NO | $44.66 |
| Liver enzymes AST/ALT | $7.06 | PERHAPS | $47.70 |
| C-Reactive protein | $7.06 | PERHAPS | $56.03 |
| ANA | $16.49 | YES | $59.96 |
| OGTT to detect prediabetes | $17.56 | NO | $70.24 |
| A1C to detect prediabetes | $13.24 | NO | $90.07 |
| C4 | $16.38 | PERHAPS | $104.33 |
| SPEP/IFIX | $5.00 | PERHAPS | $128.21 |
| C3 | $16.38 | YES | $148.91 |
| Lyme (Western blot) | $19.49 | unknown | $224.02 |
| A1C to detect diabetes | $13.24 | NO | $240.73 |
| Sjögren’s antibodies (SS-A/SS-B) | $24.46 | YES | $265.87 |
| Creatinine | $6.99 | unknown | $279.60 |
| IgA antiTTG | $15.62 | YES | $446.29 |
| TSH (high or low) | $22.93 | YES | $477.71 |
| Folate | $20.06 | YES | $1,003.00 |
| Vitamin B12 | $20.41 | NO | $1,360.67 |
| Hepatitis C antibodies | $15.86 | NO | $1,441.82 |