Comments on: Healthcare Update — 02-27-2013

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:50:12 +0000

I don’t know what you’re hiring them for, but only specialists make that kind of hourly wage, or people in those international firms who primarily work for Fortune 500 companies (who have the juice to negotiate the fee if they desire).

If you have received a bill with undocumented expenses, and not received explanation, contact the state bar and they will start an investigation.

If you’re a client and don’t understand your bill, you have every right, and the State Bar will back you up, to get an explanation of it.

The original poster had a good point. I don’t see physicians trying it any time soon, however. They want to complain about the 3rd party reimbursement system – not change it.

By: throckmorton

throckmorton — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:51:25 +0000

Better yet, what if we charged like attorneys. $500-1000/hr plus undocumented expenses and then 33% of future earnings.

By: DdR

DdR — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:07:30 +0000

Though, of course, you would have to build the time spent on requisite paperwork in there somewhere.

By: DdR

DdR — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:05:31 +0000

I wonder if it would be to everyone’s benefit it Doctors, Hospitals, Ambulence services, etc. stopped billing for specific conditions, treatements, etc. and instead billed like a mechanic for labor and parts. You spend an hour with a patient, you bill for an hour of your time at your stated rate. period. No arguments. You could even put a time clock in your patient rooms just to keep things straight.

By: Resident

Resident — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:18:33 +0000

my husband would have to pay $40 per paycheck to be on my insurance surcharge if he had other means to have health insurance. this is at a tertiary care center giant multi-center group that can’t provide for residents. i’d hate to see the benefit options they give anyone else here or anywhere the way things are going.

By: LC

LC — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:48:52 +0000

the first thing is funny – and interesting. i had one ortho doc who wore only polos and khakis. when he walked in i asked if he was the surgeon or the coach.

he wasn’t amused and got huffy with me… but yet it was how he chose to dress!

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:46:48 +0000

I followed the link to the website regarding the lawsuit filed against the C-section injury. 1.5 cm laceration not worth even close to what the plaintiffs are asking. These attorneys are scum. No place to comment on their website. If there was I could post the same comment.

By: White Coat Hype: Branding Physicians With Professional Attire | The ACUTE CARE Blog: Non-Urban Emergency Medicine

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:09:27 +0000

[...] From JAMA Internal Medicine, via (the appropriately named) WhiteCoat: [...]

By: DefendUSA

DefendUSA — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:36:09 +0000

The MD Anderson Cancer Center article is not a surprise. When I had my son, 19 years ago, I asked for an itemized bill. And the reason is because I got some type of pain med that I didn’t “get”. I believe the nurse attending me took it. In any case, I was charged $3.00 for a single acetaminophen, not the brand name Tylenol and $10.00 dollars for each pain med that I didn’t get.
It was 2 months before they sent me an itemized bill.
Two years ago, my son kept telling me he had pain in his lower right side. I didn’t see any bulging, just slight redness an warmth… (but he didn’t tell me he’d gotten bitten near his privates…hence a bit of a lymph infection) and I was calling all the general surgeons in town asking if they would quote me a price for cash payment for a hernia. First they ignored the question, and told me if he had a hernia on one side, he probably had it on the other!! Without insurance, I wanted to know what I would be on the line for. Finally, after actually getting testy with one lady, she relented and told me the surgery itself would be $700. Anesthesia and facility charges would add to that.
I hate the idea that you have to pull teeth when you want to be a responsible paying party.

By: DefendUSA

DefendUSA — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:24:14 +0000

Matthew Yglesias is a tool.