The Soapbox

Joined: 03/16/2005 Posts: 16403
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You misunderstood. Each provider would be free to set whatever price

they want for each procedure, but each provider must charge all of their patients the same price without regard to insurance company or plan any other factor. There would be no more in and out of network providers. Insured, self pay, Medicare, Medicaid would all be charged the same by a given provider. Those prices must be readily available and even put online. Make the marketplace as transparent as possible. Make insurance as close to cash as possible. If there is real incentive for a patient to shop, as I suggested by splitting the amount below reasonable and customary with the insurance company, then I think we would see prices drop dramatically.

You mentioned that quality is a factor and of course it is, but the truth is that today you shop by network. If there are four MRI machines within 30 minutes of you and only one is in your network, that is the one you will go to.

There are anecdotes of overbuilding of hospitals, MRI machines, robotic surgeons, etc. With a surplus of supply, transparent pricing and a consumer incentive to shop good things happen to prices.
[Post edited by 81_Hokie at 05/09/2017 4:55PM]

(In response to this post by JohnHoo2)

Posted: 05/09/2017 at 4:46PM

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You misunderstood. Each provider would be free to set whatever price -- 81_Hokie 05/09/2017 4:46PM

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