Abstract:
Patients and physicians do not know the cost of medical procedures. Opaque medical billing thus contributes to exorbitant, rising medical costs, burdening the healthcare system and individuals. After criticizing two proposed solutions to the problem of opaque medical billing, I argue that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should pursue a rule requiring that patients be informed by the physician of a reasonable out-of-pocket expense estimate for non-urgent procedures prior to services rendered.
摘要:
患者和医生不知道医疗程序的费用。因此,不透明的医疗账单会导致过高,医疗费用上涨,给医疗保健系统和个人带来负担。在批评了两种针对不透明医疗计费问题的解决方案之后,我认为,医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心应该遵循一项规则,要求医生在提供服务之前,向患者告知非紧急程序的合理自付费用估计。