Yay!!! The medical monopoly of too high prices is under attack.

[dixiegrrrrl]

The Surgery Center of Oklahoma put this in stark relief when they showed up on the scene, offering no-insurance, flat-priced common operations where the price is known before the procedure is undertaken and typically winds up costing 80% less than a hospital charges for the same procedure -- with no surprises.

Now we have Theranos, which has taken advantage of a new Arizona law that allows any person to order their own tests without doctor involvement, reading or gate-keeping. In other words your tests are your tests, as are the records (and results) of same. And their prices?

Anyone can walk into these Wellness Centers at convenient hours and get accurate, rapid lab testing with transparent prices that are always at least 50-80% below Medicare reimbursement rates.

https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=230324

[arcane1]

1. Very interesting...

Thanks for sharing this!!!

[TexasProgresive]

2. It has always bothered me that medical and surgical proceedures are piece meal

Unless it is something very minor the whole procedure should be a "turn key" job, where the patient knows right up front what the charge will be. And non of these bills appearing 2 years later from some doctor in another city that you don't know. Use the general contractor model. The doc in charge sub contracts out the radiologist, anesthetist and so forth paying them from out of his fee. There are dangers to this model but at least one would know up front the costs.

[msongs]

3. all licensed practioners must post their prices on the internet for all to see. it's

called...competition. even repubs should love it

[still_one]

4. you can get lab tests right now on your own through Life Extension

http://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/ItemLC381822/Chemistry-Panel-Complete-Blood-Count-CBC-Blood-Test

http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/Blood-Tests/Blood-Tests

This has been available for some time now. You get the blood drawn at LabCorp, then send in the test, and the result are sent to you.

Price is usually significantly cheaper then where your PCP sends you to have the labs.

The catch with what you are referring to the "medical monopoly" is they do not take insurance. That includes Medicare, Medicaid or regular health insurance. It is a FOR PROFIT facility. Facilities that take insurance, Medicaid or Medicare pay a contracted price, which is considerably less then the bill you see.

I would not assume some procedures are 80% less. As I sad they are a FOR Profit group. In addition, what is the quality of care, infection rates of those procedures at those facilities?

There is no way a poor person could get service at those facilities.

When they say prices are 50-80% below Medicare reimbursement rates, that is an inaccurate statement. If the patient has Medicare A&B and the right supplemental plan, there is no out of pocket cost for the patient.

This is just the right wing way to say we don't need socialized medicine

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. FYI.......LabCorp was sued by Gov. for fraud and over charging.

My Dr. office stopped using them a couple of years back when it was happening.
but..now they are using Lab/ Corp again and prices are higher.

We have Medicare A&B.
Mr. Dixie had a mild stroke in May.
Lots of imaging tests, for which we have paid pennies compared to the amount charged.

I would thrilled if we could join most of the other countries and have single payer.
Rack up another reason to vote for Bernie.

Meanwhile, I am watching medical and insurance info very carefully.

[still_one]

6. The Surgery Center of Oaklahoma is run by a libertarian, who wants to get rid of any socialized type

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 10:09 PM - Edit history (3)

medicine.

http://www.surgerycenterok.com/tag/libertarianism/

Frankly, it is a right wing philosophy, no surprise that it is in Oklahoma, where their political representatives also don't believe in climate change. No thank you. I prefer to have insurance.

The link I supplied in my first post and the issues you are talking about are separate. You didn't read the link, or the prices I assume. The prices are listed very clearly, and the link is if you wanted to get lab work on your on without using insurance. I didn't recommend it, but the prices are 50 to 80% what you would pay if you just walked into a reference lab uninsured.

I don't see the lab prices in the link you supplied. In the link I supplied without insurance:

They can give you a Comprehensive Chemistries and CBC with diff for about 40 bucks, and if you have insurance or Medicare with supplemental, lab test are covered 100% anyway.

Here are there prices from the center you named:

http://www.surgerycenterok.com/pricing/
Uninsured or folks without means will not be able to afford those prices

The solution for people who started The Surgery Center of Oklahoma, if you don't have the means to pay for it, die, or go someplace else. The government solution, though not ideal is, Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance. The ACA allow millions of people to get subsidized insurance if their income is under a certain amount, and expanded Medicaid depending on income, unless of course it is a State like Oklahoma, where the good "christian" doctors at the surgery center of Oklahoma, want cash up front, or go somewhere else

If someone goes into a facility uninsured, and with assets, you are right, they will pay through there nose. That is what insurance, the ACA, Medicare with supplemental are for. Medicare with supplemental will cover most of the time 100% of the costs. There are places that take Medicare as payment in full, and with a good supplemental, it will be 100%

Sorry, but the Surgery Center of Oaklahoma is just right wing facility.

You mentioned you had Medicare A&B, did you have a supplemental policy? If not, you are right you will pay what Medicare A&B does not cover which can be quite substantial.

If you don't have a supplemental policy, You should also consider a supplemental or medigap policy.

Hope your loved one is doing well