To the editor: In my 20 years in well being care, working to enhance medical claims fee at 4 main well being plans, I noticed numerous examples of the billing discrepancies that Dr. Renee Y. Hsia mentions that her pal obtained two very completely different payments for therapy of the identical damage. in his daughter.
Many plans contract with suppliers at charges which can be barely increased or decrease than Medicare reimbursement charges. Medicare has supplied a well-researched customary for funds to services and practitioners.
One thing must be performed to handle opaque and unfair pricing. No matter whether or not or not revenue must be concerned in healthcare in any respect, capitalism wants referees as a lot as, or greater than, sports activities; in any other case, dishonest and exploitation will stay too tempting for too many suppliers.
Philip Solomita, Palos Verdes Estates
..
To the editor: An organization charging vastly completely different quantities for a similar services or products is an indication of both deliberate fraud or unintentional incompetence. I believe each are at work on this damaged system.
What else may clarify this household’s expertise paying for his or her daughter’s well being care?
I problem any healthcare skilled, doctor, administrator or insurance coverage lobbyist to defend this technique. I feel everyone knows that’s indefensible.
Nate Brown, La Crescenta
..
To the editor: My daughter had the identical minor elbow damage as the child in Hsia’s piece and I took her to an pressing care heart for a number of hundred {dollars}.
Why would the mother and father take this youngster to the emergency room not as soon as, however twice in the identical day for one thing that might simply be handled outdoors of a hospital?
Clearly, the mother and father knew it wasn’t a breakup the second time round. Possibly the opposite invoice was increased for losing sources on one thing that did not require a hospital go to.
Sandra Carter, Lengthy Seaside