My guess is that this is where healthcare is headed in the US. If things stay on the current trajectory, the govt is simply going to step in set prices.

In terms of how they would be set, Medicare already spends a ton of time created a system of DRG codes for every condition along with a set payment (adjusted by COL and other things).

Of course Medicare rates are sometimes less than the cost to provide the care. But I see us just getting to the point that the govt will just say “tough shit”.