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As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

nytimes.com

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Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#81

Post by ctdonath »

letstryagain wrote: post #17
ctdonath wrote: post #5

Both my kids required a few stitches near their eyes. Did I opt for the $30 suture kit and do it myself? or did I opt for on-demand (there & ready, patients or not) doctor analysis (risks of fractured skull or aggressive infection), sedatives (both wriggled & screamed as I held them still, how much worse without?), experienced threading, and whatever other ideals applied? "Sure you can buy a hamburger for a dollar. B…

Do you buy $1000 hamburgers?

Considering the order of magnitude the lead article is generating consternation with, fact is I do buy $10 and $20 hamburgers at times ... and yes, it is worth the difference.

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#82

Post by kamaal »

refurb wrote: post #12
rdtsc wrote: post #3

> Orla’s forehead was sealed with a dab of skin glue for $1,696. On Reddit, where this stuff is discussed more, I just urge people if they can get away with it (they are conscious and can hide their wallet, for ex), to just give them a fake name. Almost $2k for a dab of skin glue? No! I don't care what complicated politico-economical factor lead to that. Free market, over-regulated market,expensive doctor's education…

Have you seen the profit margins for the hospitals with these high prices? They certainly aren't raking it in. I agree that's stupid, but that's how the system works for paying for medical care in the US. From the perspective of the hospital, it makes perfect sense.

Profit margins is just a jargon thrown around here. A doctor/exec taking back ~$1.5 million an year for sure isn't working on a non profit venture. They are working on a venture, which may be a non-profit at an organization level to avoid paying taxes but use that saved taxes to optimize individual salaries.

Either way 'non-profit' venture in nearly all countries have been classic ways to avoid paying taxes. If you are rich, all you need to do is create a non-profit trust- Name it for religious, social or whatever charity. Once you do that you can thrown some peanuts towards a social cause and at the same time park millions worth wealth without paying taxes. Suddenly you can grow your wealth without paying taxes.

This is how it works in my country, India. You will see non-profit trusts, especially religious with billions in assets- Who don't pay a penny in taxes. They will occasionally have some religious festival and may be feed the poor on an auspicious day. While at the same time the trust grows fatter in assets and money everyday as they attract donations in billions, literally!!

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#83

Post by gaius »

davidbanham wrote: post #6

How on earth can you think a free market solution is appropriate for emergency medical care? For elective procedures, sure. For the ER? How do you expect the consumer to have perfect knowledge, rationality and freedom of choice in that scenario? If your kid is gushing blood, you call an ambulance to take them wherever they can get patched up the fastest. To expect someone to shop around until they find an equilibrium…

Sorry to nitpick but elective doesn't mean optional or frivolous, it just means planned in advance. I know this because I have some coming up.

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#85

Post by rikacomet »

xerophtye wrote: post #59
rikacomet wrote: post #45

Could this be the problem rising from US having a increased reliance on Allopathic System of Medicine? In India, Allopathic System exist together with other 4 big system, namely Unani (Old Greek), Chinese, Ayurveda & Homeopath. Yes, all practitioners have to register themselves to a certain extent with the medical board of India, but the system is not as highly centralized, and is more like professionals working most…

You seem to be flagged, i can't imagine why. Probably for criticizing modern medicine? Either way i see what you are saying. That "not-fully-qualified-as-a-doctor" professionals seem to be the go-to people for minor injuries like stitches and sprains, while for major injuries you go to a hospital. Makes sense. Why open a whole computer when you just want to know 121451*1231 right? And i guess that does bring the pric…

yes 100% thats what I meant

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#86

Post by malyk »

cesarbs wrote: post #8

I had a panic attack in the beginning of the year which lead to severe PVCs in my heart. I freaked out and thought I was about to have a heart attack, so I decided to go to the ER. They hooked me up on an EKG and told me I was OK and that it was just anxiety. After more than an hour of monitoring and a few blood tests, they let me go home. A few days later a $4K bill came through the mail :( I'm appalled by the cost…

Had the exact same thing happen except my bill was only for $1800 after insurance.

The kicker was that when I called the insurance company to ask about the cost they told me that it was unknowable in advance because they have rates negotiated with each hospital individually. When I asked if there was any way to estimate my out of pocket expense of if there was any cap they told me no.

So, there's literally no way to know what it's going to cost, at least with blue cross, because the rates are negotiated on a per facility basis and not public.

Not really a free market for sure.

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#87

Post by cesarbs »

mtdewcmu wrote: post #36
sjtgraham wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nice dig disingenuously implying the US isn't a first world country, it is of course the very definition of one. The term also doesn't relate to economic development. Anyway, even some developing countries have universal healthcare, e.g. Cuba.

I suppose Cuba is the reason we don't have universal healthcare. If they do it, it must be Communist.

I have the feeling many Americans actually think this way.

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#89

Post by cesarbs »

te_platt wrote: post #29
davidbanham wrote: post #6

How on earth can you think a free market solution is appropriate for emergency medical care? For elective procedures, sure. For the ER? How do you expect the consumer to have perfect knowledge, rationality and freedom of choice in that scenario? If your kid is gushing blood, you call an ambulance to take them wherever they can get patched up the fastest. To expect someone to shop around until they find an equilibrium…

It's not hard. Limited only by your imagination. Emergency calls dispatched to competing ambulance/hospitals. Competing emergency dispatch services, say 911, 922, 933,... Customized emergency dispatch services - We'll have a life flight helicopter on call for only $99 a month! Plus any ideas from millions of people looking out for their best interests.

No, no, no, please don't promote the idea that having multiple numbers is a good thing. Coming from Brazil where such thing is the case, I can tell you the moment you have multiple numbers people have no clue what number to call on an emergency.

Re: As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500

#90

Post by astrodust »

rcthompson wrote: post #39
astrodust wrote: post #2

This should be more specifically in America . The title seems overly generic.

It's an article in the New York Times, an American newspaper. By default, it is about America. Not every news article needs to declare a globally unique namespace.

Ah, I forgot this was "Hacker News America".
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