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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 2, 2024

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You can provide them the information that you have. That includes information like negotiated prices, so they are not only looking at sticker prices.

Why are we involved when it's the insurance who decides what things costs and how much to pay.

You are both parties to the determination of price. If you don't think you're involved at all, then I will just go tell all the health insurance CEOs that they can stop getting shot by just paying you $1 for everything. After all, you're not involved at all with anything related to prices, so that couldn't change anything, right?

...or are you involved somehow?

Again, the only group that actually gains anything from maximally clear information is insurance companies since it improves their bargaining position. This information has no practical value to consumers and as is self-evident at this point, is confusing and misleading.

So is your goal to improve profits and rent-seeking for insurance?

If your goal is improve consumer choice or spending, or decrease healthcare costs...pick something that does that.

You are not providing any information to the insurance company. They already get the price that you charge them (that's in the bill that you send them); they already have the negotiated price (you both agreed to it). You are providing information to your patients.

EDIT: I love how it magically changed from totally meaningless information that was complete nonsense, because the insurance company decides everything anyway and they have it all anyway.... to absolutely critical and vital information, such that if the insurance company gets even a whiff of it, it'll be an insane disaster. Like wow, dude. Listen to yourself.

You are providing information to your patients.

This information has no value to patients. You cannot use this information to make more informed decisions. You cannot use this information to find cheaper care. Or more expensive care. You can give them false certainty, that's about it.

In situations where the information has value (like prescriptions)....we give this information to patients and there are a number of robust tools to facilitate this, even apps.

You are asking for something that has no value and has costs. Stop doing that. This is why healthcare is expensive. If you want to improve something please do! I'll support you. Don't make things more expensive for no reasons for fucks sake.

You already agreed that it can have value. Just give them the information that you have. You're out of excuses.

I did not.

...did you listen to what I said at all?

Yup. You said that costs sometimes matter. Just inform your patients.

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