How are you feeling?

[kallend 1,621]

That will be $11

Just one example of how the US healthcare system pads its charges.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/06/11-for-brief-emotion-the-hidden-charges-of-us-healthcare-are-utterly-enraging

 

 

[headoverheels 291]

I had a doctor visit for an injured wrist, and got a wrist brace.  Pretty much identical to one which can be had on Amazon for around $20, but you can rest assured that it cost several times that.   The kicker was an added charge of something around $120 for it being a "custom fitted" brace.   The custom fitting comprised trimming off the end of the velcro adjustment strap with scissors, something that took a few seconds to accomplish -- and that wasn't a doctor's time either.

My insurance has also been routinely upcharged for visits.  Certain levels of visits are classified by a minimum time spent, and the time required for a "complex" visit is rarely spent.   e.g. 25 minutes with the doctor, charged for a billing code requiring 40 minutes.

I was looking up billing codes (too see what was being charged) a few years ago.  Searches gave me results to a seminar presentation for doctors, telling them how by asking another couple of questions and spending another 2 minutes with a patient, they can enhance their revenue stream.

 

[kallend 1,621]

2 hours ago, headoverheels said:

 

I was looking up billing codes (too see what was being charged) a few years ago.  Searches gave me results to a seminar presentation for doctors, telling them how by asking another couple of questions and spending another 2 minutes with a patient, they can enhance their revenue stream.

 

I had the same thing happen with an "Intro to Medicare" exam.  I queried extra charges and found that they were because the doc asked a couple of questions that aren't on the list of topics that Medicare covers for that exam.