I worry that it will lead to much worse treatment on top of that.
Even if it's a non-emergency, getting the prices up front will cause a lot of people to chose to either go untreated or to delay treatment until a problem becomes far worse.
Just having prices available does nothing to improve the costs. People with type 1 diabetes know the cost of insulin. Has that prevented it's price from moving to levels that many can't afford?
It doesn't matter if the costs are known up front when drug manufactures end up with patent help that allows them to gouge. When medical devices are often produced by very few manufactures. When hospitals enjoy local monopolies.
The thought that the only thing missing from keeping medical prices down is the price tag is just absurd.
Wouldn't that be even more pressure on the pricing system, though?
If statistics about refused services were kept, we could see where the various providers are pricing in-demand services out of reach of those who need them. Or conversely, what services were advised above and beyond actual need.
We could see pressure on providers to bring costs in line with the benefits of each code/procedure, and the ripple effects could help reduce the premium->insurer->provider cost overages for everyone.
Mind you, I still believe single payer will be the eventual end game, but this could be a solid step in the right direction.
> Wouldn't that be even more pressure on the pricing system, though?
Why would it? They can literally just raise the price and those that have insurance are going to get it which ultimately covers the loss in those that refuse service due to price. That ultimately is reflected to the customer in the form of higher premiums which they pay regardless of whether on not they get EKGs.
Further, with less people getting services it really is as simple as cutting nursing, doctor, and lab staff because there isn't as much demand.
It may make a difference if the market was completely unregulated and insurance didn't exist at all. In that case, some guy could do EKGs out of his van at a much lower cost.
However, that's not the market we have. Doctors command high salaries and we've regulated that only those with medical licenses can practice medicine.
Medicine is not a free market and it's a bad idea to ever make it one. There are already major issues with unlicensed quacks selling placebos.
Even if it's a non-emergency, getting the prices up front will cause a lot of people to chose to either go untreated or to delay treatment until a problem becomes far worse.
Just having prices available does nothing to improve the costs. People with type 1 diabetes know the cost of insulin. Has that prevented it's price from moving to levels that many can't afford?
It doesn't matter if the costs are known up front when drug manufactures end up with patent help that allows them to gouge. When medical devices are often produced by very few manufactures. When hospitals enjoy local monopolies.
The thought that the only thing missing from keeping medical prices down is the price tag is just absurd.