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View Full Version : Obamacare exposes Hospitals who jack up their prices for patient care.



Cigar
05-08-2013, 07:25 AM
A hospital in Livingston, N.J., charged $70,712 on average to implant a pacemaker, while a hospital in nearby Rahway, N.J., charged $101,945.

In Saint Augustine, Fla., one hospital typically billed nearly $40,000 to remove a gallbladder using minimally invasive surgery, while one in Orange Park, Fla., charged $91,000.

In one hospital in Dallas, the average bill for treating simple pneumonia was $14,610, while another there charged over $38,000.

Data being released for the first time by the government on Wednesday shows that hospitals charge Medicare wildly differing amounts — sometimes 10 to 20 times what Medicare typically reimburses — for the same procedure, raising questions about how hospitals determine prices and why they differ so widely.


The debate over medical costs is growing louder, spurred partly by President Obama’s overhaul of the health insurance system.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/08/business/hospital-billing-varies-wildly-us-data-shows.html?hp&_r=0

So you'd rather pay more?

zelmo1234
05-08-2013, 07:28 AM
It doesn't really matter, as now even St Mary's is not planing on accepting the pool insurnace coverage. So in W MI there is a hospital in Muskegon, and one in ST Joe!. the lansing Hosptals have not decided yet! So it matters little what they bill, because if it is not life threatening, they are not going to treat the people!

But you get to keep your doctor, as long as you can pay cash!

Cigar
05-08-2013, 07:31 AM
Good ... so the answer is YES, you'd rather my more.

Brilliant I say ... Brilliant. :rollseyes:

Chris
05-08-2013, 07:32 AM
Cigar, how you twist this into a positive for Obamacare, let alone connect Obamacare to it, is a mystery that I suspect will go unanswered.

If I go to the Shell half a mile away I pay more than at the Shell 10 miles away.

lynn
05-08-2013, 10:12 AM
The high costs of hospital care definitely need to be audited by an outside entity and the entire hospital system needs to be restructured to reduce costs.

zelmo1234
05-08-2013, 10:34 AM
Hospitals are private business, you would not regulate what a shoe store could charege for a pair of shoes would you?

Cigar
05-08-2013, 10:39 AM
Hospitals are private business, you would not regulate what a shoe store could charege for a pair of shoes would you?


Shoes are not life sustaining devices ... nice try, but no Cigar. :tongue:

Cigar
05-08-2013, 10:41 AM
The high costs of hospital care definitely need to be audited by an outside entity and the entire hospital system needs to be restructured to reduce costs.


I have a buddy who writes billing and auditing software for private offices ... he's been doing this for 22 years and business is better than ever.

roadmaster
05-08-2013, 10:41 AM
The high costs of hospital care definitely need to be audited by an outside entity and the entire hospital system needs to be restructured to reduce costs.I agree, they also have prices for insured people and higher for uninsured people at the same hospital. Private business or not, that's not fair and they should be looked into.

Greenridgeman
05-08-2013, 10:47 AM
I agree, they also have prices for insured people and higher for uninsured people at the same hospital. Private business or not, that's not fair and they should be looked into.

Insured people get discounts because they are buying health care in bulk, so to speak.

Power of group purchasing, like Costco or Sam's Club.

Chris
05-08-2013, 10:48 AM
Shoes are not life sustaining devices ... nice try, but no Cigar. :tongue:

How does that make it the business of government to regulate?

Greenridgeman
05-08-2013, 10:50 AM
The high costs of hospital care definitely need to be audited by an outside entity and the entire hospital system needs to be restructured to reduce costs.


Obamacare has restructered the entire health care system.

Seen any reduction in your insurance?

Cigar
05-08-2013, 12:00 PM
Obamacare has restructered the entire health care system.

Seen any reduction in your insurance?

That piercing you're feeling isn't coming from the Government ... sport. :grin:

Hospital Billing Varies Wildly, Government Data Shows
Data being released for the first time by the government on Wednesday shows that hospitals charge Medicare wildly differing amounts — sometimes 10 to 20 times what Medicare typically reimburses — for the same procedure, raising questions about how hospitals determine prices and why they differ so widely.

The data for 3,300 hospitals, released by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, shows wide variations not only regionally but among hospitals in the same area or city.

.......

Medicare does not actually pay the amount a hospital charges but instead uses a system of standardized payments to reimburse hospitals for treating specific conditions. Private insurers do not pay the full charge either, but negotiate payments with hospitals for specific treatments. Since many patients are covered by Medicare or have private insurance, they are not directly affected by what hospitals charge.

Experts say it is likely that the people who can afford it least — those with little or no insurance — are getting hit with extremely high hospitals bills that may bear little connection to the cost of treatment.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/08/business/hospital-billing-varies-wildly-us-data-shows.html?_r=0

Please continue your denials .................................................. ..................

Cigar
05-08-2013, 12:03 PM
How does that make it the business of government to regulate?


Yes ... in some cases or you end up with 2008

nic34
05-08-2013, 12:08 PM
Obamacare has restructered the entire health care system.

Seen any reduction in your insurance?

Not a lot, but yes I have.

But please do check in with your results when the ACA is fully in place....

Cigar
05-08-2013, 12:09 PM
Obamacare has restructered the entire health care system.

Seen any reduction in your insurance?

Seen anyone lose their Job ... personally?

Mainecoons
05-08-2013, 12:14 PM
BS

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323936804578227890968100984.html

Your rates may have gone down slightly because your state (AZ) regulators required BC/BS to reduce their surpluses.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-by-consumers-union-nonprofit-blue-cross-blue-shield-health-plans-built-up-huge-surpluses-yet-seek-huge-rate-increases-99011294.html

You're delusional (yes, we already know that about you) if you think any decreases came as a result of Obamacare.

nic34
05-08-2013, 12:23 PM
It was Aetna GENIUS and yes, the ACA requires ins. cos. to use 85% of premiums (“80/20 rule”)for care instead of for padding their profits.... thus the rebate and the lower rate..... GENIUS.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/costs/value-for-premium/

roadmaster
05-08-2013, 12:40 PM
Insured people get discounts because they are buying health care in bulk, so to speak.

Power of group purchasing, like Costco or Sam's Club. I understand but many are caught without insurance between layoffs or waiting for them to be qualified for insurance upon hiring and shouldn't be thrown into a much higher bill. An aspirin shouldn't cost $20.00. Look at the bills. They do take advantage of people and should be looked into.

lynn
05-08-2013, 08:01 PM
It was Aetna GENIUS and yes, the ACA requires ins. cos. to use 85% of premiums (“80/20 rule”)for care instead of for padding their profits.... thus the rebate and the lower rate..... GENIUS.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/costs/value-for-premium/

That is a joke, they may be required but if they don't do it the government doesn't have any big fines for them if they don't pay what they are suppose to. The insurance companies are not transparent of revenue received and itemization of claims paid out. Hell, try asking them for a copy of their fee schedule if you are insured through them. They won't give it to you.

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05-09-2013, 05:03 AM
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