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They're using information overload tactic. This approach leverages a psychological principle that suggests when people are given too many choices or too much in
by Reptur 3y ago
They're using information overload tactic. This approach leverages a psychological principle that suggests when people are given too many choices or too much information, they can become overwhelmed and struggle to make decisions. The point is to overwhelm, the consumer, the people trying to fix this system etc.
- NoMoreNicksLeft 3y agoA simpler and more rational explanation, is that they're trying to overwhelm the adversary. The insurance company, its claims department. If you can't ever compare two medical treatments because they're never similar, let along identical, then any price at all might be attached to these. The consumer hands over a laminated card and says "I have insurance". No one's overwhelming him. He's not even really a party to the transaction. Not until the insurance company denies the claim, at least.
- lotsofpulp 3y agoAn even more rational explanation is that the human body is one of the most complex machines there is, and we barely have an understanding of it. Those who do have some understanding of it spend decades learning about it, and so a layperson will simply never have the expertise to make informed purchasing decisions. That is why the insurance company (ideally) can serve as an informed agent (employing doctors and pharmacists), who (ideally) will more often than not know what is and is not worth paying for.
- NoMoreNicksLeft 3y agoYes. Your explanation totally makes sense for why there's a billing code for "bitten by duck, initial encounter". I see it now. Disregard my first comment.
- lotsofpulp 3y agoThat is probably explained by the attempt to use an existing system developed for a different purpose to also accomplish the billing task. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36686754 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36686754
- NoMoreNicksLeft 3y agoLike, I dunno... filling the entire system with so much garbage, that the insurance company is unable to determine exactly how much a reasonable price might be? Yeh, I said something about that.
- karaterobot 3y agoWhat? No. This isn't user facing. And they are following a schema created as a result of regulation. It sounds like the schema sucks. It sucks because it implies a lot of redundancy, and allows you to remove some of that redundancy, but does not require it, resulting in a foreseeable and unfortunate amount of redundancy.
- Reptur 3y agoIt doesn't matter if its user facing. This mass of data must be filtered through and understood by the medical coders, the confusion and mass amount of data can lead to overcharging. 80% of medical bills contain an error and usually not in the patient's favor. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/80-percent-hospital-bills-have-errors-are-you-being-overcharged https://www.healthline.com/health-news/80-percent-hospital-b...