Minnesota Hospitals agree to discounted care for uninsured patients.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

this agreement comes on the heels of numerous studies and reports finding that uninsured patients are often charged more than insured patients. a recent commonwealth fund study found that an estimated 77 million americans ages 19 and older--nearly two of five (37%) adults--have difficulty paying medical bills, accrued medical debt, or both.

among participating minnesota hospitals, lower prices will be charged to uninsured patients with incomes below $125,000 a year. for a given service, these patients will be charged no more than the amount the hospital would receive for the same service from the insurance company that was its largest payer the previous year. in most cases, the discount will result in a 40% to 60% reduction in prices. "i congratulate these hospitals for stepping forward and addressing this issue, which is in the forefront of almost every state," says attorney general hatch. "by exercising this leadership, these hospitals honor their communities and their patients."[[color=#6699cc]1]

expanded access and lower prices. what a concept!

[pickledpepperRN]

I look at my husbands Medicare statements. Physicians and hospitals bill for 2-5 times what Medicare approves.

Then the patient or supplemental insurance pay about 20% of that.

If they can afford it more people will pay their bills.

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

I look at my husbands Medicare statements. Physicians and hospitals bill for 2-5 times what Medicare approves.

Then the patient or supplemental insurance pay about 20% of that.

If they can afford it more people will pay their bills.

So Medicare pays only 20-50% of what physicians and hospitals bill. Then the hospitals and docs have to make it up by charging more to others. Maybe we should look at the root causes which drive up the cost of medical care. Simply paying less hasn't helped much.

I agree, if healthcare were more affordable, more people would pay their bills.

[pickledpepperRN]

Most recent report by the IHSP regarding hospital costs: http://www.calnurses.org/research/pdfs/IHSP_Hospital_200_2005.pdf

154 pages of research and footnotes.

Interesting. - http://www.calnurses.org/research/pdfs/IHSP-Hospital-200.pdf