Appendix removal: Huge sticker shock in hospital study - $1500 to $180,000

[Liberal_in_LA]

Appendix removal: Huge sticker shock in hospital study

CHICAGO – What do hospitals charge to remove an appendix? The startling answer is that it could be the same as the price of a refrigerator — or a house.

It's a common, straightforward operation, so you might expect charges to be similar no matter where the surgery takes place. Yet a California study found huge disparities in patients' bills — $1,500 to $180,000, with an average of $33,000.

The researchers and other experts say the results aren't unique to California and illustrate a broken system.

"There's no method to the madness," said lead author Dr. Renee Hsia, an emergency room physician and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. "There's no system at all to determine what is a rational price for this condition or this procedure."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-04-23/extreme-hospital-bills-appendix/54490452/1?csp=24&kjnd=hn8IdXmqPulhBDgLQgdb6lnmZVrvdIECeG20cjChE%2F3OMaSjB8wy9WMktKm199BE-65d8153b-9555-4ebb-bc38-1a571e37ae96_QiBqV8f65GbbK6%2BQMQ1TjUFyj2cSLaAYZOqC%2FtHNz84DLw%2B3CoDpo5URaM1C%2BVyK

[dembotoz]

1. the next question would be how much did the insurance company actually pay

the insurance company gets discounts that would make costco blush

john q public???? not so much --pay in full

[gratuitous]

2. And the Republican talking point will be . . .

See? If you just shop around for the best price, you can take control of your own health care costs without all that e-e-e-evil big government intervention. Unanswered, of course, will be the questions about (1) who is willing to diagnose his or her own appendicities; (2) once the self-diagnosis has been made - and is presumably accurate - who's going to sit down with the phone book and start cold-calling hospitals and clinics to get the best price; and (3) after you've gotten three quotes (one for $1,500, one for $33,000 and one for $180,000), how confident are you REALLY going to be driving over to the $1,500 office for your procedure?

[just1voice]

3. It's called "For profit health care". Most Americans want it to end

It's not ending and we're told it can't happen because of psychotic repukes but in fact, it's a corrupt political system of paid-off whores that do not represent the American people who prevent it from happening.

[hootinholler]

4. I suspect it may make a difference if the appendix is intact or has burst.

THe former being straight forward and the latter requiring intensive care.

[exboyfil]

5. Bingo

My five year old daughter was in for a week and again for two days. This was when I had good insurance with my company (before our high deductible). I think I spent $1000-$1500. I can't remember what it cost my insurance carrier, but it had to be north of $30K. It was within a year of this event that we went to the high deductible insurance and had UHC take over our insurance (it was done by the company before).

We delayed too long on getting her to the hospital. I still feel bad about it. I just didn't think a 5 year old would have a problem with her appendix. We had a great doctor though - one of the best bedside manners ever. My daughter wants to be a general surgeon, and I think this experience must be influencing her somewhat.

[Cleita]

7. You were lucky. My six year old cousin died of peritonitis because his family delayed

getting him to the hospital, thinking it was a bellyache and would pass.

[Cleita]

6. I had mine removed in 1955. My family had to pay cash up front.

However, the whole thing cost $300, that was the doctors, the labs, the OR and surgery, and two days in the hospital. Parents sold my mother's car to pay for it. Fees like those you quoted is why we have the most expensive and inadequate health system of the developed world.

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. agreed.