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There was a comment here that was subsequently deleted that I wanted to respond to. Somebody said something like "Prices are fixed for medical treatments in man

There was a comment here that was subsequently deleted that I wanted to respond to. Somebody said something like "Prices are fixed for medical treatments in many countries and there's no worse clinical outcome." I wanted to ask that person the following. What are the prices for medical treatments fixed at? a) Below Market Rate b) At Market Rate c) Above Market Rate

HarryHirsch 4y ago
There is no market. If you are a private patient, prices are fixed, physicians must use the list price, they are prohibited from setting their own: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geb%C3%BChrenordnung_f%C3%BCr_%C3%84rzte https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geb%C3%BChrenordnung_f%C3%BCr_...
- logicalmonster 4y ago
  1) I'm not sure if you were the person who made the original deleted post or not. 2) I realize that in many areas there's a price list that they're legally obliged to follow and there's technically not a market. 3) What I want to explore is are the prices set at about what would be the "market rate" or not, and what are the consequences of this. For example, if prices for "treating medical condition X" are set below what the market rate for a service would be in a real marketplace for example, what are the consequences of this?
  - HarryHirsch 4y ago
    Not sure I understand the question. From what I hear, prices do not vary much throughout Europe. If someone wants to save money they can pay a nurse under the table, apparently common with Eastern European illegal construction crews.
    - logicalmonster 4y ago
      > Not sure I understand the question. Let's say that treatment for medical condition X is currently set at $500 on this price list. If there was a market for medical services, how would that price list price compare? Is that price too low, too high, or just right? And what are the consequences of a price being set too high or too low?
nradov 4y ago
Prices in such countries are generally fixed below the market rate. But the free market for medical treatments is also distorted in other ways, such as by artificially restricting the supply of healthcare providers. This results in shortages for some non-emergency treatments, in the sense that patients have to wait months or years. Waiting won't necessity reduce lifespan, but it often reduces quality of life. Hence why it's common for wealthy Canadians who need joint replacement surgery to travel to the US as medical tourists and pay out of pocket. They want to get their mobility back immediately instead of waiting potentially for years. Price fixing in healthcare can be a net positive for society if done well. But there are always trade-offs.

HarryHirsch 4y ago

There is no market. If you are a private patient, prices are fixed, physicians must use the list price, they are prohibited from setting their own: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geb%C3%BChrenordnung_f%C3%BCr_%C3%84rzte https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geb%C3%BChrenordnung_f%C3%BCr_...

logicalmonster 4y ago
1) I'm not sure if you were the person who made the original deleted post or not. 2) I realize that in many areas there's a price list that they're legally obliged to follow and there's technically not a market. 3) What I want to explore is are the prices set at about what would be the "market rate" or not, and what are the consequences of this. For example, if prices for "treating medical condition X" are set below what the market rate for a service would be in a real marketplace for example, what are the consequences of this?
- HarryHirsch 4y ago
  Not sure I understand the question. From what I hear, prices do not vary much throughout Europe. If someone wants to save money they can pay a nurse under the table, apparently common with Eastern European illegal construction crews.
  - logicalmonster 4y ago
    > Not sure I understand the question. Let's say that treatment for medical condition X is currently set at $500 on this price list. If there was a market for medical services, how would that price list price compare? Is that price too low, too high, or just right? And what are the consequences of a price being set too high or too low?

nradov 4y ago

Prices in such countries are generally fixed below the market rate. But the free market for medical treatments is also distorted in other ways, such as by artificially restricting the supply of healthcare providers. This results in shortages for some non-emergency treatments, in the sense that patients have to wait months or years. Waiting won't necessity reduce lifespan, but it often reduces quality of life. Hence why it's common for wealthy Canadians who need joint replacement surgery to travel to the US as medical tourists and pay out of pocket. They want to get their mobility back immediately instead of waiting potentially for years. Price fixing in healthcare can be a net positive for society if done well. But there are always trade-offs.