Re:What Happens When Doctors Only Take Cash (2017)
by Pokepokalypse on Tuesday January 16, 2018 @12:40AM
(#16156087)
I've heard explanations that it has to do with something called "pay master" software, which sets the prices - but they do set a high price as a negotiating point for insurance companies.
Personally, I believe this practice to be outright blatant fraud. There is a complete lack of price-transparency for the end-user, whether there's an insurance company involved or not. And for people who supposedly champion the so-called "Free Market", Congressional Republicans are certainly quiet on this one issue, when they're criticizing the current healthcare system and regulations.
Re:What Happens When Doctors Only Take Cash (2017)
by carlmr on Tuesday January 16, 2018 @11:02AM
(#16159115)
That's what I read as well. Basically we need price transparency, insurances paying the same as the non-insured, and lower awards in law suits against hospitals/doctors and America would have one of the cheapest healthcare systems in the world in no time.
Re:What Happens When Doctors Only Take Cash (2017)
by jjeaff on Wednesday January 17, 2018 @05:36PM
(#16172710)
While I agree that lots of offices don't know their costs off hand, I have not had much trouble getting quotes for specific procedures.
The real problem is that I rarely have any reason to ask if my insurance is going to cover all of it.
Perhaps it is just to make sure they always get the max from the insurance companies. Or maybe they are able to write off the portion that the insurance company won't pay as a loss or bad debt.