John Brown was on a fishing trip to Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee when he was bitten on the ankle by a venomous copperhead snake that was hiding under a boat cover, prompting him to call 911 as he feared for his life.
When an Air Evac helicopter arrived on the scene, the EMTs insisted he receive antivenom immediately, meaning a helicopter ride to the ER, though Brown resisted. He preferred and apparently expected to be transported by ambulance, according to WZTV in Nashville.
“They told me that I could lose my leg or possibly lose my life,” Brown told WZTV. “So I agreed to sign their papers and get on the helicopter.”
Brown, who was later told by physicians that the bite was not life-threatening, was transported from Celina to the Cookeville Regional Medical Center in a 20-minute flight.
“They didn’t check my vitals. They didn’t get me any IVs. They didn’t do anything during the flight,” Brown told WZTV. “The emergency room doctor said the shot was more deadly than the snake bite, so they waited four hours before they started giving me any antivenom.”
Though poisonous, the bite from a copperhead snake is rarely fatal, as its potency is among the lowest of all pit vipers. A bite can cause extreme pain, tingling, throbbing, swelling and severe nausea. Photos in WZTV’s report showed swelling in Brown’s lower left leg.
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The biggest bite was taken out of Brown’s pocketbook as Air Evac billed Brown $42,806, of which he was responsible for $36,406 as insurance covered $6,400.
“I always pay my bills, but this one I feel like I’m being unfairly charged,” Brown told WZTV.
The incident occurred last summer but was first reported by WZTV on Thursday. More from WZTV:
After reaching out to Air Evac to ask if cost information was provided to Brown upfront, FOX 17 News was told that Brown must complete a HIPPA release form. For that reason, patient privacy laws prevented representatives from discussing any details surrounding this specific transport…
Back in December, lawmakers on Capitol Hill passed the No Surprises Act. It’s an effort to crack down on surprise medical bills for hospital services and treatments outside patient’s insurance networks, this includes air ambulance costs.
WZTV reported that Brown completed the HIPPA release form and the station was awaiting a response.
“From here on out, I don’t know what to do,” Brown told WZTV.
Photo courtesy of John Brown.
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