The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Everyone looks for ways to save a few bucks, especially when it comes to medical bills. BSMC Laboratory is here to help by now offering Patient Directed Testing (PDT). PDT is a process where you as the patient get to choose which lab tests you’d like completed without a doctor’s order. Yes, you read that right. You, the patient, get to walk to the lab, ask for the tests you’d like, and get them done! Our Lab is regulated by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), a sector of CMS. This regulation, along with compliance of State Laws, helps to ensure the lab professionals can safely complete your testing. The lab professionals do not interpret your results, will not make medication adjustments based on your results, and cannot offer any medical advice. Those tasks must all be completed by your provider. You will receive your results that day via the patient portal, or in the mail within 2-4 days. You may also request that those results be sent directly to your provider in the same 2-4 days. If your provider is out of town having to fast before your lab draw can make for a long drive! With PDT you can get your labs drawn right here in town, the results will be at your provider office waiting for you, and you can do it all at a discounted price. If you need a PCR Covid test before travel, you don’t have to sit in a waiting room and see a provider for nothing more than a negative result. You can walk straight to the lab and get it done! If you have concerns of a child’s drug use, you can walk right in and request a urine drug screen. Or maybe you just want to collect some more in depth information prior to an appointment with your provider. No problem, there’s no appointment necessary. Just come into the lab, request your test and gather information!

These tests can be offered at a discount because we’re taking everyone else out of it! No provider office visit, insurance is not billed and you pay at the time of your lab draw. So there is no additional fees for the provider’s time, the billing and coding team’s time, or the invoicing service. There is a flat rate set for each lab so you know exactly what you’ll need to pay before showing up and that fee can even be covered with your HSA or FSA money! You will also be provided a receipt so you can take the steps to apply the cost to your insurance deductible, but the facility will not do that for you. This is how we keep costs down.

This service is for anyone. No matter your insurance status, no matter your age, no matter where you seek primary care, if you’d like the labs done you can come here and get them done! BSMC lab can complete a wide variety of tests, the following are PDT options: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Lipid Panel, Hemoglobin A1C, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Magnesium, Prostate Specific Antigetn (PSA), Folic Acid, Free T4, Free T3, Cholesterol, Iron, Iron Binding Capacity, Ferritin, Urine Drug Testing, Urinalysis, Fasting Glucose, Covid-19 PCR. Those in bold indicate normal annual labs ordered by our providers. An interesting thing to note is that our providers follow the most up to date recommendations on which labs to review annually. Most insurance companies are behind in accepting those up to date changes, so some of your annual labs are not covered by mainstream insurance yet. PDT can be a great way to mitigate those extra costs. Your healthcare should not be governed by your insurance coverage. To learn which labs your insurance covers, you’ll need to ask your insurance company.

Also starting July 1, BSMC will be offering FREE diabetic screenings. This service is being provided by a grant through AHEC-MSU Bozeman. At least 120 tests will be covered by this generous grant. Head over to the lab next week and get your blood work completed! Lab hours are M-F, 8 am to 4:30 pm. If you have any questions call 406-378-3912.