Re:Why drug prices in America are so high
by subhobroto on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @04:16PM
(#12500864)
As you note, groceries are one of the most cut throat industries in the continental U.S. We import food from all other parts of the world and not end up paying through the nose for them. My belief is price transparency is party the reason for this, and we are utterly lacking that i nthis part of the world.
A few people have told me that they would actively misrepresent their network status so as to get estimates from a provider before going aahead with a procedure: https://www.quora.com/Is-it-easier-for-an-uninsured-American...
Let's not even go there. Let's look at a less regulated medical field of dentistry. Dentistry is relatively cheap and available because there is, while still heavily regulated, a market. I.e. you can call a doctor's office and get a quote for whatever procedures you want. Don't tell me that someone with acute toothache is in a superior bargaining position than someone with, say, elevated blood pressure.
So the market works pretty well when you don't over regulate it. I somehow doubt that bringing even more regulation in form of single payer will suddenly fix anything.