Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Note to politicians: Balance billing is essential

The Happy Hospitalist: "My biggest problem, which I think outweighs all other issues in the health care. And that is balance billing. Payment rates by our government and followed by all third party payers have decimated cognitive medicine, the exact saviour of McCain's proposed market system. Without balance billing, we will never have a market force in health care. Without balance billing, primary care will never return. Without balance billing access will die a rapid death."


Comments:
You can only legitimately complain about balance billing bans for the government programs since you are free to accept on reject contracts with private payors.

Even with Medicare and Medicaid, as long as over 80% of the doctors play ball, complaints fall on deaf ears.
 
Ah, yes, it's the doctor's fault.

Of course, in Massachusetts, the doctor can't bill a Medicare recipient more than the limiting charge, regardless of the doctor's participation or lack thereof......as a condition of licensure.
 
Post a Comment