Would you ever buy a car without first knowing how much it was going to cost? Of course not, stupid question. Alas, we routinely walk into hospitals and partake of their procedures and products without having a clue as to how much their procedures and products cost. We’ll send you the bill, a bill which usually mimics the price of a new car, sometimes much more so.
This lack of common sense cost transparency reminds me of that parlor game where you have a peanut hidden under one of three cups; quickly move around the cups and guess where the peanut is. Guessing where the price will be after insurance and hospital finish manipulating their “cups” is no better. This situation, could in part, be remedied by a posted price index of services. I’d be totally okay with the folks in Washington forcing the hospital/insurers hand in this regard. Iron out the costs, put these online, empower the patient!
Once again, the car dealership scenario of buying a car, driving it home, then, for the first time, becoming aware if its cost! Nonsensical, preposterous, why do we the people tolerate this very same bewildering model in heath care?
