SUFFER ME TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT.
NOW, the carriers are incentivized to not negotiate rates at all since their profit margin is a PERCENTAGE of COST. The higher the cost the more money they retain. Pay attention to this people. It is brutal since the cost of procedures within the deductible and the uncovered portion of costs after the deductible BOTH go up. YOU ARE GETTING HAMMERED!
That's the way government contracts are written. Hence, the $600 toilet seat.
I wonder when they are going to start demanding medical offices pay their clerical staff prevailing wage?