Charge for “needed” needle biopsy?

Posting on behalf of my mom, I don’t have all the info but if there are any questions I’ll do my best to answer (as well as ask her).

She had a mammogram done last year & then another last month, all fine insurance wise there. They saw a concerning growth/lump (breast cancer runs rampant in my family) so she was sent to get a biopsy done. Thankfully, no cancer. (The lump had grown in size).

Now though, they’re charging her $4.5k for the biopsy that she was urged to get done because it’s “diagnostic” vs “preventive”. She wasn’t told she Should get it done, she was told she Had to. They scheduled her for an appointment that day. They said she needed to do it to rule out cancer.

She’s on a marketplace insurance (Maine) and has reached out to both the hospital and the insurance company to no avail. No one’s budging, and she’s in tears wondering how she can pay for it. Part of me sits here thankful it wasn’t cancer specifically for the cost. How shitty is that.

I’m on a difference insurance to her if that matters. Unsure of what to do. Any help is appreciated, thank you in advance.

submitted by /u/sarcasic
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