I mentioned in a previous post that transparency will be important to reforming healthcare. This article by the Washington Post shows that, based on 2010 data, the same procedure can cost wildly different amounts. It was interesting that those hospitals that charge the most to medicare often receive lower reimbursements.
It is very complicated because many times the hospital will help uninsured patients, while in other cases private insurance companies will require the patient to cover a percentage of the total sticker price. Makes you think…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/08/one-hospital-charges-8000-another-38000/
