Woman billed $21K for hospital visits after bitten by stray cat at Charlotte home
A woman said a feral cat attacked her, which left her with $21,000 in medical bills after receiving treatment for rabies.
Bite victim Christie Driscoll, of Charlotte, wants to ensure others in the same situation don’t get stuck with the hefty financial burden.
[ALSO READ: Dog kills rabid fox on family’s property in Gaston County]
The county health department doesn’t offer rabies shots. Patients must get the first injections at a hospital, which can be costly even for those with insurance.
Driscoll said a stray cat came to the front porch of her home in the Chantilly neighborhood a while ago, and it was friendly.
The cat returned last month but wasn’t so nice.
“It was four very symmetrical bites where the cat just launched onto me and then subsequently there was bruising,” Driscoll said. “I thought right away, ‘If this is a feral cat, what do I need to do to protect myself?’”
Driscoll said she went to urgent care for antibiotics, and a doctor recommended she get a rabies shot.
“I had major sticker shock after the review series was finished, which included an initial visit to the ER where I received three shots,” she said.
Driscoll said she had to pay $5,000 out of pocket after she was billed $21,000.
Mecklenburg County’s website states the health department does not offer rabies shots.
Patients need to go to an ER for the first vaccines.
However, family doctors may offer follow-up injections.
“I would hate for someone to be bitten by a wild animal and then think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t think I can afford this,’” Driscoll said.
>>LINK: City of Charlotte free rabies clinic for pets and low-cost microchipping
She told the county commissioners and officials with the health department about the cost of the medical bills.
County Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington told her in an email that his team is working with community partners to find a cost-effective solution.
Driscoll is worried that more people could find themselves in her shoes in the coming months.
As temperatures warm up, more people are outside around wildlife.
[ALSO READ: North Carolina woman attacked by rabid fox while on her bed]
“This time of the year, it’s very typical to see more bites get reported, more exposures get reported,” said Melissa Knicely, communications manger with Animal Care and Control.
Driscoll reported her experience with the health department.
“I hope that people know that this could happen to anyone and that we need to develop better pathways, so that everyone has access to these vital shots,” she said.
Call 311 or the county animal control center if you are exposed to a stray animal.
Exposure could be anything from a bite to a scratch.
(WATCH BELOW: Person contracts rabies after contact with raccoon in South Carolina hospital)
