There are no cost controls like other nations have. Japan has a single book that details the costs of all medicines and procedures. It is agreed to by both sides, under threat that the government will step in if there is no agreement.
This is what we need in the US. I should not pay a different price if I have insurance or pay cash. People that pay cash are routinely charged far more than people with insurance.
That's misleading. First of all, medicare is set by the government, and healthcare organizations cater service only to what is covered for medicare patients.
Secondly, hospitals charge people with insurance more. Typically if a patient is uninsured and paying cash, the hospital will work out ways to charge them less, because they are personally liable for way more than what insured are. Hospitals still want to get paid, and charging a patient into bankruptcy is not a way to achieve that.
Until we treat healthcare like we treat our regional monopolies (electricity, education, etc.) the the government won't be able to set prices lower.