>> Is your hourly rate set to a certain price by a central body?
Why should mine be?
You pick your rate. Whatever you like. Now charge that to every one of your patients with no discounts or negotiation. That's all I want you to do. Don't do anything different for insured patients either, your rate is your rate and the insurance company must pay it, or pass the rest on to the patient. Simple as that. The doctor down the street is free to pick his/her rate too, but they must charge that rate for all of their patients.
Why should mine be?
You pick your rate. Whatever you like. Now charge that to every one of your patients with no discounts or negotiation. That's all I want you to do. Don't do anything different for insured patients either, your rate is your rate and the insurance company must pay it, or pass the rest on to the patient. Simple as that. The doctor down the street is free to pick his/her rate too, but they must charge that rate for all of their patients.