Posted on 05/10/2013 9:19:32 AM PDT by JerseyanExile
These outrageous differences in cost for the same procedures show that some thieves wear surgical masks. And it’s our money they are stealing. When is someone going to jail for this felony theft?
Capitalism and the market in play. Whatever the market will bear given that many hospital markets do not have competition.
Federal reimbursements are based on labor costs. Hospitals have little incentive to lower costs.
What a hospital bills and what medicare pays are two different things. What Medicare actually pays is usually a fraction of what is billed.
If the billing diagnostic and bill codes are the same Medicare will pay both hospitals the same amount. There is payment modifier between cities, so a hospital in a high cost of living city gets paid more than a rural hospital.
Nevertheless, I’m glad to see the government releasing comparative data. Now if they would just require providers to charge the same amount to all payers including insurance companies, we will be on the road to some sensible healthcare.
What a hospital bills and what medicare pays are two different things. What Medicare actually pays is usually a fraction of what is billed.
If the billing diagnostic and bill codes are the same Medicare will pay both hospitals the same amount. There is payment modifier between cities, so a hospital in a high cost of living city gets paid more than a rural hospital.
Nevertheless, I’m glad to see the government releasing comparative data. Now if they would just require providers to charge the same amount to all payers including insurance companies, we will be on the road to some sensible healthcare.
Wonder what that hospital Moochelle worked for was charging vs. the ones she was scaring the indigent patients away to?
The ajc had a similar article on the cost of hip or knee replacements at different hospitals in the area—ranged from about $29,000 to $91,000. And, yes, the most expensive was the one that handles a ton of non insured/illegals in the areaa.
So...if you get a knee replacement at the more expensive hospital, SOMEONE should be able to WRITE OFF as a GIFT the difference!
The medical industry is almost the only business where you do not have the opportunity to discover the price you will be charged until after the service is provided. It is somewhat akin to a fast food restaurant refusing to post their prices and presenting you a bill for $2000.00 after you have eaten your hamburger.
I'd also ask abotu differences in care.
For instance, there are hospitals that you seek out, and there are hospitals to avoid.
The Feds have posted tremendously current data from 2011.
Good job.
Wanna really get pissed about medical costs? Get into wholesale medical supplies and medicines. The markups are staggering.
So the Post is saying Obamacare will fix this?
There was a parade of doctors who came over and briefly talked with him, some gave him a cursory look over. Now I know why - they all submitted their "consulting fees"
The cost for basically sitting in the ER for the better part of a day? $10,000. And my son doesn't have insurance through his job. Fortunately he also doesn't have any assets so, as they say, "you can only squeeze so much blood from a turnip"
So the govt should mandate prices?
Hardly capitalism. More like caveat emptor. Capitalism provides for the free flow of information to allow the consumer to make an intelligent choice. This information is kept from the consumer, and they don't even know the price until the bill is sent. This is rip-off, pure and simple.
So then it' a good thing that the prices became available so patients could avoid those hospitals that are out to rip them off.
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