General Discussion

ret5hd

(22,573 posts)

3. Something I have NEVER understood:

Thu Dec 31, 2020, 10:35 PM

Dec 2020

We are told we need to be "smart consumers of medical services". This implies that we are NOT "smart consumers"...that we need to do better. Like we get bored and get a recreational appendectomy...and we didn't call around for a price comparison.

Finding a price for a "procedure" is IMPOSSIBLE! We have tried. Hey, I understand I can't get an exact quote for a situation...too many variables. Where is the arm broken at? How many stints does that heart need? I know, I know! But how, exactly, am I supposed to make informed decisions when all pricing is double top secret?

The ONLY sane option is some form of "free at point of service" national health care.

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Hospitals Say They Will Publish Previously Secret Prices [View all] Zorro Dec 2020 OP

This is obviously a good thing for all of us. But why? As with everything trump. Who wins here? bullimiami Dec 2020 #1

Bandaid $75, placement of bandaid $325 Demovictory9 Dec 2020 #2

Something I have NEVER understood: ret5hd Dec 2020 #3

Part of the problem is that medicare only pays $0.50 on the dollar, Medicaid even less... elias7 Jan 2021 #4

So you know how to get a price for a liver biopsy or... ret5hd Jan 2021 #5

I'm in the business elias7 Jan 2021 #7

So, can you tell me? ret5hd Jan 2021 #8

That's questionable. Hospital charges are way above what they accept everyday Hoyt Jan 2021 #6

Yes, this why those without insurance get such huge bills elias7 Jan 2021 #9

Oh, it would be a mess. If hospitals were paid at Medicaid rates and even Medicare, we'd see big Hoyt Jan 2021 #10