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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.
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.
Yes you did.
...did you listen to what I said at all?
Yup. You said that costs sometimes matter. Just inform your patients.
The cost for prescription drugs is reasonably knowable and often knowable with respect to how your insurance covers them. We choose with this information in mind and generally involve patients in shared decision making if such a thing is applicable for that clinical situation.
When you come to my office for an office visit I do not know in advance what I will bill for, because that depends on what you tell me. I can't tell you that in advance. No information is available beforehand. It is also not relevant because I will either have a cash pay fee schedule or you will pay a copay or other fee depending on your insurance. Both the cash pay fee schedule and copay/coinsurance exist independent of whatever billing codes I use and what value is being assigned to them.
For hospital based care, which is what we spent most of this conversation talking about, PATIENTS CANNOT MAKE DECISIONS BASED OFF OF PRICES.
The price and cost are not what the patient pays.
Thank you for affirming my belief that Americans cannot be trusted to reform healthcare in a sensible way.
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