[JuneyBooney]

I am sure you guys remember the horsepital visit for me a few weeks ago just to remove a contact les stuck in my eye. Well, guess what they charged.....600.00 to just remove a contact lens. That is as bad as sewing up a wound etc. No wonder our country is broke.

[Dennis in MA]

Only the tip of the iceberg.

First, any idea what it costs to staff a hospital?

Second, any idea how many state insured folk get billed full freight?

Third, any idea how many insured peeps get billed full freight?

If Uncle was required to pay real cost for Medicaid patients, there would be a total rationing of care supplied by the state ASAP. You are paying more than your fair share.

[mikeflys1]

How in the world did you get a contact stuck?

[Rabbi]

How much should it cost? Give us an actual number.

[ysr_racer]

How is it you're an expert in everything?

[Slug71]

Originally Posted by JuneyBooney

I am sure you guys remember the horsepital visit for me a few weeks ago just to remove a contact les stuck in my eye. Well, guess what they charged.....600.00 to just remove a contact lens. That is as bad as sewing up a wound etc. No wonder our country is broke.

Yup!
Medical expenses in this country is a F'n joke.

Then you see many hospitals bill insurance companies for things they didnt use or multitudes of something they did use.

And once again, absolutely nothing gets done about it. Health care and insurance could be much less than what it is. Maybe then people could actually afford their medical bills and pay it.

I wish all these damn prescription drug tv commercials would get banned too.

[Slug71]

Originally Posted by Rabbi

How much should it cost? Give us an actual number.

No reason it should be more than $150

[podwich]

Doctor's office, urgent care, or emergency department?

[certifiedfunds]

Originally Posted by Slug71

No reason it should be more than $150

Interesting. Based on what?

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Slug71

No reason it should be more than $150

On what is that figure based?
Are you a medical professional?
Hospital administrator?

[certifiedfunds]

Originally Posted by Slug71

Yup!
Medical expenses in this country is a F'n joke.

Then you see many hospitals bill insurance companies for things they didnt use or multitudes of something they did use.

And once again, absolutely nothing gets done about it. Health care and insurance could be much less than what it is. Maybe then people could actually afford their medical bills and pay it.

I wish all these damn prescription drug tv commercials would get banned too.

Only way to effectively reduce medical costs in this country would be to eliminate medicare

[AA#5]

Originally Posted by JuneyBooney

I am sure you guys remember the horsepital visit for me a few weeks ago just to remove a contact les stuck in my eye. Well, guess what they charged.....600.00 to just remove a contact lens. That is as bad as sewing up a wound etc. No wonder our country is broke.

Pure greed at its best. I'd say you got away cheap. Sewing up a wound would probably be billed under "Surgical Procedure," more like $6,000.00. When you expressed shock, did they say.....let me guess....."Well, what did you want us to do....leave it there?"

As an LEO told me yesterday: "In this economy, all forms of theft are only going to get worse."

[Rabbi]

Originally Posted by Slug71

No reason it should be more than $150

Based on what? How do you arrive at that number?

[AA#5]

Originally Posted by Slug71

Yup!
Medical expenses in this country is a F'n joke.

Then you see many hospitals bill insurance companies for things they didnt use or multitudes of something they did use.

And once again, absolutely nothing gets done about it. Health care and insurance could be much less than what it is. Maybe then people could actually afford their medical bills and pay it.

I wish all these damn prescription drug tv commercials would get banned too.

"I wish all these damn prescription drug tv commercials would get banned too."

No way!! Ya have any idea what drug companies pay for those ads?

Besides, how else can they get patients to help their doctors push drugs??

[DIXIE DUCK]

So what is your suggested solution? Perhaps private competition with the licensed industry? Would you have preferred to have an unlicensed individual attempt the same work for $150? Just curious!

[wrx04]

Originally Posted by Rabbi

How much should it cost? Give us an actual number.

It depends on what the problem actually was, because I think there was a bigger issue than a "stuck" CL.

If it was only a contact lens that he couldnt remove himself, then $600 is ridiculous. However, he should not have went to the ER for that either. A private practice would remove a lens for <$100 easy.....but again, i think this was more complicated than the OP thinks.

[Slug71]

Originally Posted by Rabbi

How much should it cost? Give us an actual number.

Originally Posted by certifiedfunds

Interesting. Based on what?

Originally Posted by Atlas

On what is that figure based?
Are you a medical professional?
Hospital administrator?

Originally Posted by Rabbi

Based on what? How do you arrive at that number?

I made it up. Just like they probably did that bill.

Why should it be any more?

Back in 2009 my ex-wife had to have a procedure done and got put under. You know what they charged for about 80-100ml of anesthesia? $700!! S... more expensive than friggin gold!
Sorry but that is ridiculous!

[certifiedfunds]

Originally Posted by DIXIE DUCK

So what is your suggested solution? Perhaps private competition with the licensed industry? Would you have preferred to have an unlicensed individual attempt the same work for $150? Just curious!

I'm unlicensed and am officially extending an open offer to rip a contact lense from your cornea for $25.

[certifiedfunds]

Originally Posted by Slug71

I made it up. Just like they probably did that bill.

Why should it be any more?

Back in 2009 my ex-wife had to have a procedure done and got put under. You know what they charged for about 80-100ml of anesthesia? $700!! S... more expensive than friggin gold!
Sorry but that is ridiculous!

Sounds like a bargain! Woulda sucked without it, no?

[Slug71]

Originally Posted by certifiedfunds

Only way to effectively reduce medical costs in this country would be to eliminate medicare

Probably and this ;

Originally Posted by Slug71

Then you see many hospitals bill insurance companies for things they didnt use or multitudes of something they did use.

[17119jfkioe]

Originally Posted by certifiedfunds

Sounds like a bargain! Woulda sucked without it, no?

It sounds to me like your for price gouging...

[Slug71]

Originally Posted by certifiedfunds

Sounds like a bargain! Woulda sucked without it, no?

Glad you think so. But you didnt have to pay the bill now did you. But yeh it probably would have.

Funny how so many other countries can charge so much less than America does for medical expenses though.

[JMS]

http://healthcarebluebook.com/

[jame]

To facilitate my ties to farm and family, I've been working at a local county hospital for the last two years, and after 30 years in private enterprise, I can tell you that, at least at our place, efficiencies are no where near those of private industry.

Profit is not exactly our forte', and the focus of making big money seems to be of the vendor side, not the service side.

Ironically, the new health care bill is driving efficiencies in our group, not necessarily to embrace the new regulations, but to avoid (get around) them. In other words, if you think health care will get better, think again. We're thinking of getting better use with our money, just like any other business. By cutting staff, increasing work week hours, and selecting low bid vendors. You get all of that goodness with only a slight tax increase.

[teumessian_fox]

Law dictates everyone gets medical care. Even if they won't pay. Illegals. Welfare deadbeats. Everybody.

I used to live in kalifornia in the central valley. We had no fewer than five emergency rooms close their doors according to, the Sacramento Bee, because illegals used the ER as a primary care provider. They'd bring their brats in for flu and colds, lie about names and addresses. And the hospitals ate the costs. This crap goes on all the time.

So, doctors, hospitals, clinics, etc, have to pass on those costs or else go out of business.

And when the government starts enforcing nationalized health care with price ceilings on what doctors can charge, said doctors are just going to quit.

Then let's see what you whiners have to say. When you can't get decent health care at any price.