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New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

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Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#41

Post by xmddmx »

candiddevmike wrote: post #3

Everyone assumed there would be malicious compliance here but it's definitely eye opening just how malicious they made it. Speaks volumes for the perceived risk releasing this data, IMO. Still waiting to hear about someone using this data to negotiate down a hospital bill, seems like it's just insurance companies that can weaponize this data for better rates.

I wonder, does the law have any whistleblower provisions? Seems like a programmer who had been coerced to fudge the data, and kept receipts, could be in a good position...

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#42

Post by Alupis »

iamerroragent wrote: post #18

Imagine a world where one entity received all the peoples medical bills and was incentived to negotiate for the lowest possible rate from each provider. Imagine the savings alone from reducing a massively overly bureaucratic and complicated system down to just one entity negotiating and paying the health service providers. Just imagine in that world this article would have never needed to have been written.

> Imagine a world where

Yes, and let's also imagine all of the existing single-payer systems (de facto or otherwise) work as advertised and didn't have elites-with-means flee to other nations for quality care.

Let's also imagine these systems provide stellar quality care and more importantly, timely care.

We can daydream all we want - but the reality isn't so obvious or absolute.

For those who are really in the know... the US already is a socialized medicine nation. Look at how much of the US annual budget is blown on medical care. Hint... it's larger than the military budget.

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#44

Post by ecommerceguy »

JPws_Prntr_Fngr wrote: post #17
candiddevmike wrote: post #3

Everyone assumed there would be malicious compliance here but it's definitely eye opening just how malicious they made it. Speaks volumes for the perceived risk releasing this data, IMO. Still waiting to hear about someone using this data to negotiate down a hospital bill, seems like it's just insurance companies that can weaponize this data for better rates.

> seems like it's just insurance companies that can weaponize this data for better rates. That’s because their negotiating power is mainly due to the size of their buying power, not special knowledge or skills. Health “insurance” is basically the lamest, most economically perverted form of collective bargaining ever.

The current administration has basically decided that this will not be enforced so most of the carriers have ditched phase 3 - searchable 500 popular procedures. Really is a shame, I was very much looking forward to utilizing this, especially for HSA and or ASO clients.

t. licensed broker / agency owner

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#45

Post by xupybd »

maxwell wrote: post #31
JPws_Prntr_Fngr wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> seems like it's just insurance companies that can weaponize this data for better rates. That’s because their negotiating power is mainly due to the size of their buying power, not special knowledge or skills. Health “insurance” is basically the lamest, most economically perverted form of collective bargaining ever.

And why federal governments make the best health insurance carriers. Brokers, medical billing staff, and other middlemen serve no purpose other than increasing cost (in order for an inefficient, openly colluding private cabal to invest premiums, deny claims, and collect profit) because everybody needs access to medical treatment.

I live with free healthcare. The last three trips to the emergency department have been over eight hour waits. My father's cancer treatment was not covered so the last year of his life cost him everything.

On the other side my child's healthcare is amazing and all free. We get instant access to great services.

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#46

Post by nhinck2 »

Alupis wrote: post #42
iamerroragent wrote: post #18

Imagine a world where one entity received all the peoples medical bills and was incentived to negotiate for the lowest possible rate from each provider. Imagine the savings alone from reducing a massively overly bureaucratic and complicated system down to just one entity negotiating and paying the health service providers. Just imagine in that world this article would have never needed to have been written.

> Imagine a world where Yes, and let's also imagine all of the existing single-payer systems (de facto or otherwise) work as advertised and didn't have elites-with-means flee to other nations for quality care. Let's also imagine these systems provide stellar quality care and more importantly, timely care. We can daydream all we want - but the reality isn't so obvious or absolute. For those who are really in the know.…

There are plenty of countries which operate functioning public health systems with optional private care. There is no daydreaming required.

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#47

Post by Alupis »

nhinck2 wrote: post #46
Alupis wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Imagine a world where Yes, and let's also imagine all of the existing single-payer systems (de facto or otherwise) work as advertised and didn't have elites-with-means flee to other nations for quality care. Let's also imagine these systems provide stellar quality care and more importantly, timely care. We can daydream all we want - but the reality isn't so obvious or absolute. For those who are really in the know.…

There are plenty of countries which operate functioning public health systems with optional private care. There is no daydreaming required.

> There are plenty of countries which operate functioning public health systems with optional private care.

You mean the US...?

It's a quaint idea... but nobody likes the reality once it's implemented. Evidenced by the fact that the US is already the largest public health system in the world, and people do not even realize it.

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#48

Post by eftychis »

Alupis wrote: post #42
iamerroragent wrote: post #18

Imagine a world where one entity received all the peoples medical bills and was incentived to negotiate for the lowest possible rate from each provider. Imagine the savings alone from reducing a massively overly bureaucratic and complicated system down to just one entity negotiating and paying the health service providers. Just imagine in that world this article would have never needed to have been written.

> Imagine a world where Yes, and let's also imagine all of the existing single-payer systems (de facto or otherwise) work as advertised and didn't have elites-with-means flee to other nations for quality care. Let's also imagine these systems provide stellar quality care and more importantly, timely care. We can daydream all we want - but the reality isn't so obvious or absolute. For those who are really in the know.…

My personal experience as a European citizen living in the U.S. is drastically different.

I flee the U.S. to have all my medical related tests and work, out of pocket, in the E.U. And it is cheaper and much much better experience. (And I don't get different treatment compared to any members of my family that are insured in Europe for paying out of pocket.)

First of all: I speak with a doctor. Not a nurse, an administrator to size me up, to see if I am in actual need of an appointment, but a doctor. (Yes, this has happened to me in the U.S. I find it unacceptable, especially given that I was apparently in much more dire situation than I even thought, and was lucky to be seen by a doctor, otherwise I would have joined the disabled group of individuals.)

I am not sure why people in the U.S. keep bringing up the UK [Edit: -- not sure if that is what you are implying but most people are in other comments]. Pick any EU country. Sure, you might not have a 5 star doctor's office, but you are going to be treated by a doctor efficiently. And that is what matters. Don't waste money on administrative tasks and fees.

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#49

Post by axutio »

logicallee wrote: post #43

I've asked the author for a copy of a correct csv or xlsx file, I'll share it if the author responds. https://imgur.com/a/bTmfDEU

What does this mean? Having read the article, I don't understand what it is you're asking the author for.

Re: New health insurance “transparency data” looks suspiciously wrong

#50

Post by drstewart »

JPws_Prntr_Fngr wrote: post #17
candiddevmike wrote: post #3

Everyone assumed there would be malicious compliance here but it's definitely eye opening just how malicious they made it. Speaks volumes for the perceived risk releasing this data, IMO. Still waiting to hear about someone using this data to negotiate down a hospital bill, seems like it's just insurance companies that can weaponize this data for better rates.

> seems like it's just insurance companies that can weaponize this data for better rates. That’s because their negotiating power is mainly due to the size of their buying power, not special knowledge or skills. Health “insurance” is basically the lamest, most economically perverted form of collective bargaining ever.

>That’s because their negotiating power is mainly due to the size of their buying power, not special knowledge or skills. Health “insurance” is basically the lamest, most economically perverted form of collective bargaining ever.

Now can you make a cogent argument for why more than one federal / national union should exist? Why does Europe allow multiple unions?

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