> Your characterization is ignorant of how scummy medical billing actually is. Concur completely. I once lived in a state where "Balance billing" was illegal,

> Your characterization is ignorant of how scummy medical billing actually is. Concur completely. I once lived in a state where "Balance billing" was illegal, yet despite having a bluechip insurance plan, seeing some physicians in-network AND paying the co-pay at the same time, I could always count on being balance billed. GRRRR. Talk about a seriously ticked off customer. Given what I know about medical billing though, I would not be surprised to hear that insurance companies were likewise trying to bilk the practices, forcing these shady responses (My wife's practice has an in-network private practice model, but insurers refuse to accept the billing rates they agreed to as a part of contract with the practice, and they play an intentional game of denials after previous authorizations, or, they intentionally send patients checks which the PTs go and cash, and fail to reimburse the practice)