Re:YC Research: Universal Healthcare
by refurb on Tuesday February 07, 2017 @03:12PM
(#13592296)
The costs you typically see quoted are from the chargemaster that hospitals are required to keep. That's not what's actually paid, but rather the starting point for a negotiation (or what you are billed if uninsured).
One reason for the inflated chargemaster prices (e.g. $100 for a tylenol) is that payers (Medicare is a big one) simply negotiate by saying "I'll pay you 50% of your chargemaster". Then when the hospital updates their chargemaster, they tack on another 20% and the payer comes back and says "I'll pay you 25% of your chargemaster".
It's a vicious cycle where the chargemaster prices have no bearing on reality.
Re:YC Research: Universal Healthcare
by tcbawo on Tuesday February 07, 2017 @04:38PM
(#13593075)
Perhaps we need to borrow a tactic from countries fighting currency inflation and introduce an alternate 'chargemaster' with more realistic (ideally public) prices.
One reason for the inflated chargemaster prices (e.g. $100 for a tylenol) is that payers (Medicare is a big one) simply negotiate by saying "I'll pay you 50% of your chargemaster". Then when the hospital updates their chargemaster, they tack on another 20% and the payer comes back and says "I'll pay you 25% of your chargemaster".
It's a vicious cycle where the chargemaster prices have no bearing on reality.