Health Reform Part 2

The amazing thing in the process of health reform is that neither party appears to have the slightest idea about how the actual system works. I can only assume that they have been so taken over by special interests that they lack the capacity to express anything close to what is real.

As I said in the previous comment, a big part of the problem is the reimbursement system. One additional complicating factor is balance billing. Balance billing laws prohibit physicians from charging more than the negotiated contract price, even if they do so openly.

Let's put this in perspective. Can you imagine any product or service that was price controlled such that differences in quality could not be accounted for in the price? Of course not. Yet, that's what physicians are stuck with.

The arguments in favor of preventing balance billing focus primarily on preventing physicians from adding fees that are not specifically covered by insurance. This seems like a good protection for patients, especially in th4e face of a health crisis. But, unfortunately, the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater.

The laws also prohibit the patient from negotiating with the physician. What if I want to establish an agreement that the physician will see me in no more than 10 minutes, but I'm will to pay 10% more for that? You can get express passes at Disney World, but you can't get an express pass with your physician?

Let's put some economic reason back into health care. The desire for economic reason is not at odds with a goal of ensuring all Americans have the health care they need. How someone gets health care paid for is separate from how the reimbursement system works and the mess it makes things.