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Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by mistermann on Monday July 24, 2017 @06:08PM (#14843185)
The bill goes to the government, who gets its funding from the people. This in no way stops any systemic over-billing that may be occuring.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by kirrent on Monday July 24, 2017 @07:13PM (#14843605)
Well, in my country, the government would laugh, and then only pay a standard amount.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by kalleboo on Monday July 24, 2017 @09:45PM (#14844425)
I thought that was what medic(aid/are) in the US already pretty much did.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by ssambros on Monday July 24, 2017 @08:12PM (#14843937)
And unless they pay enough no providers will do the procedure unless you somehow force them.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by ceejayoz on Tuesday July 25, 2017 @12:12AM (#14845072)
Yes, which is why single-payer systems generally do a tiny bit of research, pick a reasonable amount, and pay that.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by BurningFrog on Tuesday July 25, 2017 @01:59AM (#14845453)
Sure, but if you're the single possible payer, you can push that number down quite low.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by ssambros on Tuesday July 25, 2017 @01:36PM (#14849945)
Which would require providers to cut as much corners as they possibly can to stay in business.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by slededit on Tuesday July 25, 2017 @06:01PM (#14852274)
At the end of the day their revenue is dependent on throughput of people for their facility. If they gain a poor reputation relative to other providers they will lose. Quality of care would be the only thing they could compete on.
Re:The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills by rangibaby on Monday July 24, 2017 @07:21PM (#14843642)
See: Japan where the government decides the price of procedures.

On national health insurance (monthly cost depends on your salary but for an average person it is a few hundred bucks per month) the hospital pays 70% and patient pays 30%.

It means basic visits to the doctor or dentist are very cheap here. Like $20 for consultation + medicine. ER+X-rays and MRI (appendicitis, sigh) was a little bit over $100.