Why should the sick care whatsoever? Why do we need to have this discussion about competitive rates and charging these competitive rates to people who are in genuine need? And most of the time (for the doctors of this discussion), because they are in dire medical need.

Provider networks are just artificial competition. They don't need to exist. They just drive up costs and sink people into pouring money in a system that already sucks.

I've been dealing with it for the last 6 years with my mother. I wouldn't wish the added stress on anyone. It's ridiculous and wrong and backwards.