How Much Was That Treatment?

[groovedaddy]

(Another strong argument for single-payer - gd)

Analysts are finding huge disparities in the amounts that private insurance plans pay for common medical procedures. This goes largely undetected by patients and their doctors because hospitals and private insurance plans treat their negotiated prices as confidential.

Researchers at the Commonwealth Fund have analyzed data from the small number of states that require public disclosure. In New Hampshire, they found a threefold to fourfold spread in what the biggest health insurers pay for the same procedure performed at different hospitals. They also found substantial variation in what different insurers pay for the same procedure at the same hospital. One big health plan paid $2,300 for a colonoscopy at a particular hospital, while another paid $3,100; one plan paid $1,400 for magnetic resonance imaging of the back, while another paid $2,300.

There is no evidence, as yet, in New Hampshire that disclosure has reduced the variation in prices or caused many patients or doctors to change their choice of hospitals. That could be because disclosure has only just started, the information is often difficult to extract, and many patients may equate higher prices with better quality care or don’t care about price because they are well insured.

Meanwhile, an annual survey by the International Federation of Health Plans found that the prices paid in the United States in 2011 were far higher than the prices paid in other advanced countries, and that within this country the amounts paid for services varied greatly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/opinion/sunday/how-much-was-that-treatment.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120325

[NV Whino]

1. How can they tell

I can't make heads nor takes of the "this is not a bill" that comes in. A recent TINAB for a hip replacement had $1800 for miscellaneous. Miscellaneous what? Vitamins? The crutches or walker or cane that I supplied myself? The dressing aid kit that I could have gotten for $40 at the local medical supply?

Medical costs are so far out of line that I'm not sure anyone can fix them.

[tech3149]

2. I can only respond from my own experience

I have been uninsured since I quit working in 2002. I had three incidents wiht the medical profession as a recipient.
The first was for dental care. I was told by the billing clerk that I was paying 30% more than an insurance company would have accepted.

The next was a trip to the emergency room that cost over $3K There was no negotiation on price for services. They couldn't even offer a diagnosis that justified the cost.

My next included a four day stay in hospital that left me feeling like a prisoner and forced me to challenge the doctors to release me. They ran every test under the sun and couldn't tell my what was wrong with me. That little diversion' I was being billed $24K but just telling them about my financial situation they were willing to settle the bill for $13K

I think if you do a little research you will find that the uninsured will pay prime rates for health care services.
As an addendum, my last incident with the health care industry caused the revocation of my DL. Since the revocation was health related, the only intelligent defense would require the support of a medical professional.
I spent weeks dialing for doctors. Most were not taking on new patients. Those that were wanted exorbitant fees for an office visit. How does $100 for an office visit sound when you only see the doctor for 5 min and the NP for ten?

The health care profession is broken at least as bad as our political system.

As far as health care, I have gone back to a homeopathic, food based method of dealing my health problems but politically I'm not sure what the answer will be.
I have a feeling the answer might be to just turn off the TV, go outside and meet your neighbors and find the common ground that I'm sure we all have.