Does Mayo Not only Test/Diagnose but also Treat - Out of State Patient

That's an easy answer, @mpflood7. Yes, Mayo Clinic also treats out of state and out of country patients. In some cases, patients choose to return to their home state for treatment in coordination with their Mayo Clinic physician team.

Allow me to bring in some members to share their experiences, like @ken82 @dawn_giacabazi @rosemarya @jerrynord @mpeters and @1nan. I'm sure others will join in too.

I am from Michigan and have had 2 visits to Mayo-Rochester. The first time was a week and the second visit was

@mpflood7 Hello. I am 1nan, or Nancy to all who know me. Colleen referred me to you because I am from Pennsylvania and have been a Mayo Clinic patient since 2002. That year I learned I had a condition that could become Multiple Myeloma. My research led me to Mayo Clinic for the leaders for that particular cancer. My local oncologist was very happy that I was able to go there and within two weeks I had my first appointment. My doctor there has ultimately directed care and treatment since then, working in tandem with my local doctor. I have traveled there annually on average but also 2-3 times a year on occasion. When Multiple Myeloma was confirmed at Mayo in 2004 the life expectancy was 3-5 years. I have received best practices and newest treatments since then. November 1 will be my one year anniversary of being in remission. There are no guarantees of outcome for any of us, but I feel blessed and grateful for my care there. I hope you let us know if we can offer more help, and also if you are able to find what you need.
Peace, Nancy

Thank you to all. I can only afford one trip to Rochester so would like to wrap-up my treatment in one visit. Short of that, knowing the Mayo Clinic doctors can work in conjunction with my local doctors is comforting - though I’m still uncertain how that work. My local doctors here in south Florida are not good (nor is my insurance network). If I can think of a way to re-formulate my concern here, I’ll write again. Thank you again.

Two weeks. Sorry about the blip in continuity!

@mpflood7 You are welcome. I hope that you find the way to make things work, both now and moving forward. Just remember how to find your way back here. Nancy

@mpflood7 how can we best reassure you that you are in good hands coming to Mayo? I have seen your posts on other topics and have responded to you as have many others. We are so glad you are asking questions and will be glad to answer them but my heart breaks for you because I sense that you are not getting the reassurance you need. How can we help you?

I am naturally curious but his is very stressful given not only my health but my financial situation, being on my own and coming from a long distance. I wish I could know if there were any way to be hospitalized at Mayo Clinic. Given the tests and number of specialists, it seems it would make more sense in terms of quality collaborative care and even financially. For example, from a care standpoint, my understanding is that in a hospital, the doctors can know sooner how well a new medication will work. (I also want the Mayo doctors to care for me throughout rather than the doctors where I am in south Florida.) From a financial perspective, my insurance caps the cost if in a hospital (better for me, since I'll know the max), but with outpatient visits and tests, it seems the cost could sky-rocket. Might you have any further insight? Thank you again for your info and for your empathy. Very kind of you.

@mpflood7, I'm so glad that @bernese53 asked for further clarification. You may also be interested in the information provided in this discussion:
- Advice for financing visits to Mayo Clinic in Rochester https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/advice-for-financing-visits-to-mayo-clinic-in-rochester/

You ask very prudent questions about ongoing care and cost. I highly recommend that you call Mayo Clinic appointments with these questions. They will work with you to understand the full extent of costs, insurance and inpatient vs out patients services. http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

Mayo also has a cost estimator, but I think you may not yet have enough information about your diagnosis and treatment plan for it to be useful. Here is the link if you'd like to check it out. https://costestimator.mayoclinic.org/

I know this is stressful but you are UNLIKELY to be treated as an inpatient for diagnostic testing. Mayo limits the days of inpatient care because of not wanting to expose people to hospital-acquired illness and infection (true even before Covid 19). I had spine surgery at Mayo in 2019 and was an inpatient for TWO days only. Please, please try to think positively about the benefits of coming to Mayo even as an outpatient. Mayo does offer financial assistance to people who may need it.