95% of that bill was for the anti-venom shots...WHY?? Because allthe ILLEGALS that have no insurance uses them for EVERYTHING and they are NEVER asked to pay a CENT!!!
A friend who is in medical billing says its all “software.”
Costs are assigned to procedures. An accounting program that does a straight calculation of costs plus depreciation, profit, etc... will come out with such ridiculously high outputs
Of course, no one ever actually pays that. Other layers of the accounting and billing software then have the actual agreed charges for insurance companies, Medicaid, etc...
It’s cost shifting - her bill is higher to pay for those who do not pay.
Let the government fix it. They really know how to turn businesses around.
One change fixes it all. Loser pays and the suing attorney has a 33% stake in the suit.
The reason for these costs is: third party payer
The solution is easier: pay for your own normal costs, but maintain catastrophic insurance... and if everybody had to pull it out of their pockets, they would know the true costs and raise hell...
jmho...
Because those of us who can pay subsidize those who don’t as well as drugs for the world.
US drug consumers pay for poor around the world to get drugs cheaper
sad irony...most can’t afford even that we subsidize
that and because health insurance is now medical care period when it used to be just for major medical
IMHO, why the high bills
- lawyer tax - having to pay the dr’s liability insurnce
- illegal tax - pay for the illegals who rack up medical bills
One of the big problems is lack of transparency on pricing. It would be like if walked into a McDonald’s where there no prices on the board and they rang you up for a $500 Big Mac after you ordered. Nobody asks how much will this cost before they ask for a procedure nor do hospitals post any prices for treatments so people can make rational care decisions.
I always just assumed the costs were so high because so many people, legally and illegally here are required to be given medical care, and have no intention of paying for it.
Since most patients do not pay out of pocket there is surprise but little outrage when they get the bill. Whether it be insurance or govt the third party payer system creates no incentive to hold down costs and even encourages their growth. If you look at medicine the only areas of real cost competition are elective cosmetic surgery, lasik surgery, and veterinary medicine. Why does competition exist in these? Because there are few if any third party payment systems in these areas, and no govt payments.
95% of that bill was for the anti-venom shots...Many years ago, my daughter had an emergency appendectomy. I accused the hospital of performing the surgery at the civic auditorium....... cuz their facility wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who sent me bills.
That bill of $83/k is sooo outrageous off the charts. Wouldn’t pay a penny of it until it is reworked. Earlier this year I had an ER bill of $3.5/k for a 1.5 hour visit.
I contested as much of it as possible to chop a few hundred dollars off. Still feel like they chumped me out of big $.
All I had was BP checks and vitals, IV, blood for labs, CT exam and some pain meds to ease passage of kidney stone.
Insurance companies and lawyers.
Last summer, I spent a few days at the Cleveland Clinic...My bill was $387,000.
I dunno. The only thing I know is that my last 3-day ER stay at the hospital was $10,000. $5,000 for the hospital stay and $5,000 for a full body MRI. I had no clue that a MRI was so costly. And that same year I had the test where they run a camera through your arteries to check for blocks. I am just thankful for my insurance coverage and I wasn’t out of pocket for all those costs. I had the best of care, and I certainly would like to keep it that way.
1. Give the patient enough time to tell him possible diagnoses and explain the tests that seem a) necessary and b) could possibly be helpful
And allow the patient to decide which he wishes to pay for.
This would mean NO FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS for malpractice — will definitely need tort reform for this.
But I’d like to see the patient in the driver’s seat, rather than the doctor’s CYA. Now you will be undergoing MRI’s for tummy aches in case it could theoretically be a tumor. Allow the patient to turn down tests if he doesn’t wish them and still be able to be seen by the doctor, as long as doc has given his advice. Doctors should be required only to INFORM and not control the decisions.
And if you can’t prove you are here in this country legally, resident, tourist, or citizen, forget it. No treatment other than immediate life saving. Die on the doorstep. You shouldn’t be here. I can’t expect Antarctica to let me live just because I want to be there in a bikini!
A small local hospital had a banner on the front “80% off for cash”. What does that tell you?