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> Maybe we should try to fix that. They must be trying to hide other costs in those ridiculous bills to be. That’s not fair to me. The thing is, your doctor is

> Maybe we should try to fix that. They must be trying to hide other costs in those ridiculous bills to be. That’s not fair to me. The thing is, your doctor is likely not making that much in the end. Because he needs to keep a staff of "offensive coders" who make sure that the insurance company actually pays for the correct procedures, and a couple of helpers to deal with all the paperwork. Then they also need to deal with patients with poor insurance who can't pay. Trying to get payments from these patients is soul-crushing, and doctors typically just don't bother. $440 for a quick call is also unusual.

8note 2y ago
> The thing is, your doctor is likely not making that much in the end. what defines "that much" a hundred bucks? a thousand? a million? a hundred million? a hundred bilion?
- cyberax 2y ago
  That's an interesting question. Here are some answers: > Medicare physician payment has decreased by 26% since 2001. Additionally, a recent Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that physician reimbursement per Medicare patient decreased 2.3% between 2005 and 2021 when accounting for inflation. And this was despite a 45.5% increase in physician services to each patient. Again, less pay and more work. https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/popmedicine/110901 https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/popmedicine/110901
  - renewiltord 2y ago
    Medicare patients are not the majority for practically every doctor.
    - cyberax 2y ago
      It's even worse in the non-Medicare world. There's a reason hospitals are getting rapidly bought out by the private equity. And to give some context, UnitedHealthcare has a payday service. For doctors. To help them borrow against future claim reimbursements. At the 35% rate. Nice, ain't it?
      - renewiltord 2y ago
        My family is doctors. Parents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Don’t know one user of this service.

8note 2y ago

> The thing is, your doctor is likely not making that much in the end. what defines "that much" a hundred bucks? a thousand? a million? a hundred million? a hundred bilion?

cyberax 2y ago
That's an interesting question. Here are some answers: > Medicare physician payment has decreased by 26% since 2001. Additionally, a recent Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that physician reimbursement per Medicare patient decreased 2.3% between 2005 and 2021 when accounting for inflation. And this was despite a 45.5% increase in physician services to each patient. Again, less pay and more work. https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/popmedicine/110901 https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/popmedicine/110901
- renewiltord 2y ago
  Medicare patients are not the majority for practically every doctor.
  - cyberax 2y ago
    It's even worse in the non-Medicare world. There's a reason hospitals are getting rapidly bought out by the private equity. And to give some context, UnitedHealthcare has a payday service. For doctors. To help them borrow against future claim reimbursements. At the 35% rate. Nice, ain't it?
    - renewiltord 2y ago
      My family is doctors. Parents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Don’t know one user of this service.