Capitalism and the market in play. Whatever the market will bear given that many hospital markets do not have competition.
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.
Assuming the prices are known in advance and some degree of choice in product selection is available.
In this case its anything but that. You couldn’t comparision shop even if you didn’t have a life threatening urgent need.
Goverment forcing the publication of prices for each facility would be a great thing.
Also forcing them to charge the same price for the same service to everyone would be nice too.