Should healthcare providers warn you about the high cost of a test beforehand?
In my experience, physicians rarely consider the cost of tests, procedures or drugs, even if they are well meaning. This is why doctors rarely mention the cost of tests & procedures before ordering them, even if you are paying out of pocket. This is also why doctors will very often order (for example) 10 tablets with 4 refills (for which you have to pay 4 co-pays) instead of writing one prescription for 40 tablets (for which you pay 1 co-pay).It is also why doctors often prescribe (and sometimes promote) expensive name brand drugs instead of cheap generics (of course another reason is, sadly, the often extravagant perks they get from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing their name brand drugs).Most doctors are well meaning, I believe, but their minds are often so filled with details, and their lives so very busy that they don’t have time (or sometimes inclination) to think about the costs to the patient of the tests and/or drugs they prescribe. Some also don’t think about the fact that most of us have to be more careful with the costs of treatment than they might be. Some are pressed by their clinic, medical corporation, hospitals, etc. to the point they don’t have time to provide the quality of care to each patient that they would like to.I’ve worked with a lot of doctors in my lifetime. I’ve met some who were uncaring, and a couple who were completely incompetent. But they are rare. Most doctors do care, and are well trained. My advice is to talk to your doctor frankly about your finances if he/she prescribes an expensive test or expensive drugs. Most doctors will be happy to take that into consideration and if possible, find less expensive alternatives.
Why do some home health care providers grow to hundreds of patients in a year or two while others have a hard time getting their first patient?
It could be a couple of things. It may be that the person who opened the agency has some strong relationships with key referral sources. This is actually pretty common. It could be that the agency spent quite a bit of money vetting and selecting a high quality marketing team to really get their brand off the ground. It could be that the agency is participating in a capitated agreement with a payer source or they may be part of an ACO with a local hospital. It could be that the agency has a significant financial investment from a PE group or some other investor and they acquiring agencies. It could be a combination of all the above. Pricing is not a factor in that the agency has a limited ability to affect the price outside of the initial assessment. Quality is a limited factor because in my experience referrals are seldom made based on quality scores alone. If the agency has particularly poor quality scores that will work against them but otherwise, it’s more about the relationship with the referral source and the patient’s payer source.
What health care providers in the USA only accept cash for their surgeries and services?
It's very hard to determine total cost of treatment in the US because the cost is spread between hospitals, facilities, labs, doctor practices, etc. However, there are some integrated clinics that might give you approximate prices in total, for example Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. In Ohio there is a law that every hospital must publish their [facility] chargemaster rate for something like 50 most commonly billed procedures. So, you can go almost any hospital web-site, and get these prices. However, these prices are "almost relevant" because insurances pay pre-negotiated rates different from the chargemaster, and if you pay cash, the hospitals will give you a significant discount. For example, OhioHealth gives a 35% discount and OSU Medical Center gives a 40% discount. Cleveland Clinic states that if you are uninsured, discounts "may be available". Again, these prices do not include doctor charges. If you want to find out doctor charges, you would need to contact the doctor practice, and sometimes there are hundreds of doctors who can practice at a hospital. On top of it, to get exact prices, you need all CPT codes for the procedures you are going to have. You can google CPT codes for more information.Here are some examples of hospital prices:Hospital Fees - OSU MCPage on ohiohealth.com - Ohio Health HospitalsPage on clevelandclinic.org - Main Hospital, Cleveland Clinic
Why is it not possible to undercut other healthcare providers in the US? Why hasn't any entrepreneur thought about providing affordable healthcare?
Its not that easyMedical schools cost money, plus you have to eat and have a roof over your head while you are there. Doctors are deep in debt by the time they are out of school, internship, residency, fellowship and finally out there practicing medicine and earning money. How to pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt needed to create a medical doctor?And that is just the opening cost. Enter an existing practice? Setup a new practice (big bucks)? join a hospital-based practice? Pay for insurance (malpractice anyone?), employees, etc.Its a huge undertaking. Hospitals are a whole entity unto themselves. Recreate new hospitals — usually requires a statement of need from a local (or state) agency and existing hospitals will lobby heavily that there is no “need” for another hospital in the area. Gee—wonder why?No, you cannot import drugs from outside the US and possess/use/sell/transfer/etc. Drugs are regulated by the FDA.It’s not that easy.
How can we improve health care in America?
It seems that some major health care providers have a tight grasp on health policies, charege way too much and dictate what the health plan will cover. Millions of Americans go without health care and it's very sad. What are some resolutions or ideas that you have which can improve the health coverage of Americans as well as lower the cost? No name calling or pointing fingers. That never solves anything.
I need BLS for Healthcare Providers cert. Is there any big difference between cards issued by AHA and ASHI?
I'm just curious because the courses cost differently between the two. ASHI training course will cost me only $20.00, while the other place issues card by AHA, charges $65.00 for the training that includes text & DVD. I'm looking to apply for a job in the hospital that requires BLS cert (doesn't clarify which one they'll accept). Maybe this particular hospital will take both. But if I don't get the job here, I don't wish to apply elsewhere and my BLS cert isn't recognized...mmm...is it possible? Yes, I'm new to health care :) just have to get started somewhere. Thanks in advance..
Which is the top healthcare service provider in Bangalore?
I suggest Welezo Health Care. They are one of the best health care service providers in Bangalore. They are tie-up with more than 300+ hospitals, consultants and dentistry. They have very attractive health check-up packages.They have different type of packages:Premium health checkEconomy health checkRegular health checkBasic health checkMaster health checkWomen health checkSenior citizen health checkExecutive health checkKnow more at Welezo Health Care Service Providers
Why are some healthcare providers so rude and unprofessional?
I am an interpreter and went to a clinic this morning to interpret for this lady and nurse midwife. The nurse midwife was so rude to me and the patient. Who the hell does she think she is? I mean, isn't she supposed to be professional on the job? She can act however she wants at home, but she needs to be more respectful at work. I didn't know what an IUD (birth control) is because I'm not sexually active, so therefore, I don't need it. I never heard of it 'til today and she criticized me for it and rolled her eyes at me for not knowing. Can you believe she had the nerve to do that? My feelings get hurt easily when people are rude and disrespectful towards me. I'm going to make a complaint about her because no one needs to tolerate this. I was hurt and angry at the same time. I didn't feel comfortable and shouldn't have to feel that way. I hate rude and unprofessional people. It's fine if we're out in public, but this is a healthcare facilty for christ sakes.
How do I find good alternative health care providers in the state of Maine?
Who would you highly recommend for health care providers in the state of Maine? Professionals who study alternative medicine. Health care providers who are homeopathy, naturopathy, herbalist, and a wide variety of health care licensed professionals.
Should we pass legislation requiring all healthcare providers to retroactively price match any procedure to the lowest price you can find at any facility in the USA?
No. Costs of living, malpractice insurance, and salary costs for staff vary greatly from region to region. Paying a surgical crew in San Francisco the same as what you will pay in Dothan Alabama will, in short order, mean you are going to Dothan every time you need a procedure.That said, more transparency in regional markets would be helpful. And the price match idea does help address our purchase of healthcare when we don't have capacity. (Like if you are unconscious after a car accident.)Strangely enough, your insurer has probably already built the price match guarantee into their contact. Many providers have a contact clause that an individual provider will charge the insurance company the cheapest rate they charge any insurer. Do they pass that savings on to you? Well in 2016, Stephen Hemsley, UnitedHealthGroup made $279.3 million. Not sure what your cut was.