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Re:Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure by jjoonathan on Friday July 12, 2019 @03:05PM (#20423440)
> Medical facilities are forced to artificially inflate bills.

Are they? Or are they allowed to get away with it?

Re:Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure by dredmorbius on Friday July 12, 2019 @03:08PM (#20423464)
Remove the finger of blame by noting that a self-perpetuating spiral feedback loop is created.

The question becomes how to break out of the loop.

(GOTO considered essential?)

Re:Hospitals Block ‘Surprise Billing’ Measure by jjoonathan on Friday July 12, 2019 @05:32PM (#20424707)
People seem to think they can just break the loop by dumping insurance companies because hospitals have done a very good job of painting themselves as the victims.

If we try that, I'd expect medical expenses keep going up and confused_pikachu.gif until people figured out that hospitals were never on their side. If this takes long enough, "bring back insurance companies" will be the solution, and then it won't work, and then we're back in an infinite loop with a longer cycle.

Hospitals need countervailing price pressure, and anyone who doesn't accept that is liable to vote for catastrophically bad policy.