Scorpion anti-venom has stinging cost

When the federal government approved a scorpion antivenom in August, it was hailed as an important tool to protect vulnerable victims from scorpion stings. But as doctors and patients are now discovering, the fast-acting serum for those who are stung by scorpions comes at a very steep price. Metro Phoenix hospitals are billing as much as $12,467 per vial of the antivenom approved to help children, the elderly and others quickly recover from severe reactions from scorpion stings. With a typical dose of three to five vials to counteract the venomous sting, hospital bills for patients and their insurance companies can exceed $62,000.