Credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels If someone tries to sell you something but can’t, or won’t, tell you how much it will cost… Should you be suspicious? What if you went to your healthcare provider, had a nice long consultation, allowed them to perform any test their training and experience suggested and even prescribe medications but …
Some therapists don’t think you have a right to know Read More »
Happy New Year!!!! If you’re a first-time visitor – WELCOME! If you’re a returning visitor – WELCOME BACK! WOW! 2022 is off to a rather interesting start. Here are just a few things that have already happened. Hospital Price Transparency – UPDATE The federal law known as the Hospital Price Transparency Rule, which requires hospitals …
2022 Already Filled With (Un)expected Surprises! Read More »
Background One of my 2021 goals was to get into the habit of book-reading. I read three hardcover books and listened to one audiobook. A marked improvement from last year – ZERO – ha! “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win,” written by Marshall Allen, was …
Note: This is Part 3 of a 3-Part transparency series. Part 1 Part 2 (Which hospitals got penalties due to poor performance?) If you’re not “an insider” you may not be familiar with the term “Hospital Readmissions”, but maybe you should be. In most cases[1] being RE-admitted to a hospital is bad. It’s bad for …
Maybe you’ve seen the signs or advertisements and just ignored them. They’re all around, on the side of the highway, the bottom of the screen during the evening news and DEFINITELY on the hospital’s website. They’re a force for good, right? Well… yes. Good for the investors who own the hospital. For you? Not so …
Emergency Departments publishing “Expected Wait Times” Read More »
Source: “Confused lady” feature photo from knowyourmeme.com Note: This is Part 2 of a 3-Part transparency series. In a previous blog, I cited a spokesperson for the American Hospital Association (AHA) who said consumers shouldn’t bother looking at the hospital price lists because they were too hard to understand. Instead, Americans should “set them aside and avoid …
Understanding hospital pricing: “It’s just too hard…” Read More »
Note: This is Part 1 of a 3-Part transparency series. As we’ve pointed out, time and again, Americans shouldn’t have to find out, AFTER the fact, how much something will cost. Like giving an airline your credit card and waiting until you land at your destination before finding out how much the plane ticket cost! …
When hospitals say you should “avoid” looking at how much services cost… Read More »
Note: This is the first in a series of “healthcare consumerism” posts meant to inform & educate the reader about the U.S. healthcare system. Imagine a U.S. healthcare system where everyone is an informed, savvy consumer of medical services and plays an active role in purchasing and consuming those services. Sounds amazing, right? But …
The Ins & Outs of U.S. Healthcare Consumerism in the 21st Century Read More »
