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Doesn't stop the hospital from turning around and gouging their patients and leaving them a ridiculous hospital bill which seems to be the norm in this country[

Doesn't stop the hospital from turning around and gouging their patients and leaving them a ridiculous hospital bill which seems to be the norm in this country[1]. [1]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2017/09/05/3-ways-hospitals-overcharge-you-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/#824bf922f1d3 https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2017/09/05/3-ways-h...

stevetodd 8y ago
Incidentally, one of the health systems (Intermountain) leading the initiative is itself also non-profit.
- 2trill2spill 8y ago
  Non profit hospitals overcharge just like for profit hospitals [1]. [1]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/11/13/how-nonprofit-hospitals-overcharge-the-under-and-uninsured/?utm_term=.c26748ea0ec0 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/1...
  - Retric 8y ago
    Hospital funding is a mess in the US. The US government flat out gives money to for profit hospitals because of how messed up the system is. EX: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/index.html https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/index.html Non profit's still need to play the game to stay in business because their costs are no lower.
- opportune 8y ago
  Non-profit does not mean non-corrupt. In particular, non-profits respond to having extra money not by returning money to donors/payers (because why would you do that??!) or paying shareholders (not possible) but by creating bloat and expanding exec/administrative compensation
- noelsusman 8y ago
  The overwhelming majority of hospitals in the US are either state owned or non-profit.
Amygaz 8y ago
They don’t want to lower the price to you. They simply don’t want to pay the middle man.
fzeroracer 8y ago
It's the norm because our entire healthcare system is broken. Hospitals have to gouge people with insurance in order to cover the costs of people without going to hospitals. Combined with the bureaucratic and paperwork nightmare that is figuring out who pays what and who negotiates costs down it's all bloat and highway robbery designed to enrich as many parasites along the way. It's a system designed to help only the wealthy with costs to match.
- anderber 8y ago
  You're partially right. When you see someone be charged an outrageous amount for something that should be fractionally cheaper, that's a different reason. You see, hospitals mark up prices astronomically so that when they make deals with insurance companies, they can say that they saved xx% of the cost. Which looks good to them, and the hospitals don't loose that much making deep discounts. Then goes in a poor sucker with no insurance who has to pay full price. Example: Hospital price for a bandaid: $100 Blue Cross says they want 80% discount Hospital says ok Blue Cross looks good because of how much money they saved Hospital still makes good profit
  - refurb 8y ago
    As someone who works in the industry, this is absolutely correct. I’ve talked to hospital administrators about what price they think is fair for a new drug. They say “$100”. I asked what about a higher price and a discount ($200 and a 50% discount). They tell me “Even better! I can go to my boss and tell him I got a lower price which is great since that’s a big component of my bonus!”

stevetodd 8y ago

Incidentally, one of the health systems (Intermountain) leading the initiative is itself also non-profit.

2trill2spill 8y ago
Non profit hospitals overcharge just like for profit hospitals [1]. [1]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/11/13/how-nonprofit-hospitals-overcharge-the-under-and-uninsured/?utm_term=.c26748ea0ec0 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/1...
- Retric 8y ago
  Hospital funding is a mess in the US. The US government flat out gives money to for profit hospitals because of how messed up the system is. EX: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/index.html https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/index.html Non profit's still need to play the game to stay in business because their costs are no lower.
opportune 8y ago
Non-profit does not mean non-corrupt. In particular, non-profits respond to having extra money not by returning money to donors/payers (because why would you do that??!) or paying shareholders (not possible) but by creating bloat and expanding exec/administrative compensation
noelsusman 8y ago
The overwhelming majority of hospitals in the US are either state owned or non-profit.

Amygaz 8y ago

They don’t want to lower the price to you. They simply don’t want to pay the middle man.

fzeroracer 8y ago

It's the norm because our entire healthcare system is broken. Hospitals have to gouge people with insurance in order to cover the costs of people without going to hospitals. Combined with the bureaucratic and paperwork nightmare that is figuring out who pays what and who negotiates costs down it's all bloat and highway robbery designed to enrich as many parasites along the way. It's a system designed to help only the wealthy with costs to match.

anderber 8y ago
You're partially right. When you see someone be charged an outrageous amount for something that should be fractionally cheaper, that's a different reason. You see, hospitals mark up prices astronomically so that when they make deals with insurance companies, they can say that they saved xx% of the cost. Which looks good to them, and the hospitals don't loose that much making deep discounts. Then goes in a poor sucker with no insurance who has to pay full price. Example: Hospital price for a bandaid: $100 Blue Cross says they want 80% discount Hospital says ok Blue Cross looks good because of how much money they saved Hospital still makes good profit
- refurb 8y ago
  As someone who works in the industry, this is absolutely correct. I’ve talked to hospital administrators about what price they think is fair for a new drug. They say “$100”. I asked what about a higher price and a discount ($200 and a 50% discount). They tell me “Even better! I can go to my boss and tell him I got a lower price which is great since that’s a big component of my bonus!”