Comments on: Why health care is expensive http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-88690 Anonymous Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:28:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-88690 Reason #1. Health care in the USA is expensive because hospitals have a kind of oligopoly that is supported by insurance companies. Doctors in the USA are expected to become rich whereas anywhere else in the world, a Doctor is just another professional that can become rich, but only by working hard and being the best. Reason #1. Health care in the USA is expensive because hospitals have a kind of oligopoly that is supported by insurance companies. Doctors in the USA are expected to become rich whereas anywhere else in the world, a Doctor is just another professional that can become rich, but only by working hard and being the best.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-75676 Anonymous Thu, 31 May 2007 21:15:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-75676 Anon 3:03 - See # 2. Anon 3:03 – See # 2.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-75673 Anonymous Thu, 31 May 2007 20:03:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-75673 Why don't we just conveniently leave out the most basic economics argument as to why US healthcare is so damn expensive... Why don’t we just conveniently leave out the most basic economics argument as to why US healthcare is so damn expensive…

]]> By: N=1http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-75666 N=1 Thu, 31 May 2007 19:33:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/05/why-health-care-is-expensive.html#comment-75666 More to add:<br/><br/>Charges aren't published. <br/><br/>Patients can't select from among a menu of options; dependent on prescribing practices of physicians<br/><br/>Comparison shopping isn't feasible - insurers determine who providers are and what is reimbursable - often at odds with preventive care strategies.<br/><br/>Patient seen as dependent in the physician-patient relationship (I'm not advocating for complete independency, either). Doesn't have the knowledge necessary to make the most informed decision when options are available (Type of CT scan, frequency of testing, formulary vs. nonformulary medications, bundling or unbundling and selction of diagnostic testing, etc.).<br/><br/>Barriers to lowest cost healthcare: access, disparity, available transportation, employer demands, insurer participation demands, availability of services, degree of perceived discomfort, fear, lack of education. More to add:

Charges aren’t published.

Patients can’t select from among a menu of options; dependent on prescribing practices of physicians

Comparison shopping isn’t feasible – insurers determine who providers are and what is reimbursable – often at odds with preventive care strategies.

Patient seen as dependent in the physician-patient relationship (I’m not advocating for complete independency, either). Doesn’t have the knowledge necessary to make the most informed decision when options are available (Type of CT scan, frequency of testing, formulary vs. nonformulary medications, bundling or unbundling and selction of diagnostic testing, etc.).

Barriers to lowest cost healthcare: access, disparity, available transportation, employer demands, insurer participation demands, availability of services, degree of perceived discomfort, fear, lack of education.

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