It’s nearly impossible to shop like a consumer for healthcare. No one will tell you how much something will cost and doctors often treat you as if your health is not top priority when you ask about costs. But some must take cost into account.
-
-
-
I have repeatedly asked about costs of lab work, a CT scan, etc. — & never once received a sensible answer. When pregnant w/my son (over 35, aka geriatric) & I asked the cost of an optional genetic test, the answer was “how can anyone place a price on the health of your child?”
-
On the other hand, when I take my dog to the vet, they tell me the exact cost of every procedure as part of the decision making process without judgment. When I have the information I can decide how much weight to give it or to disregard it. I just don’t want to be surprised.
-
Just please keep in mind that often the provider him/herself doesn't know, either, due to insurance company policies that are, in fact, intentionally designed to keep patients and providers in the dark. Veterinarians set their own fees; entirely different process.
-
But even when you don’t have insurance or it is a procedure not covered by insurance you cannot get the information. My point is though saying patients choose not to shop like consumers for health care is wrong -they cannot do so. The system is not set up to benefit patients.
-
True, and that is a definite problem that needs address. Still in most cases the providers are clueless and it is the billing dept., front office, etc. not providing (not knowng?) the info. And some docs are most definitely condescending and that irks me to no end.
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
We want careful + kind care: based on the best science, responsive to our biology & biography, for us (not for patients like us) without haste or waste, respectful of our scarce attention, time, energy which we rather use to pursue our hopes and dreams
#WhyWeRevolt.@patientrev - 1 more reply
New conversation -
-
-
Absolutely not. People don’t want to think about costs. Point me to physicians that DO? They don’t exist either. This is a system issue, not a patient or physician one.
-
Some of us, physicians, do want to think about cost, and feel more should. We are concerned about the cost of care, and how it impacts our patients' health outcomes and lives in general. We think about costs because it matters, and to ignore it causes harm to patients.
-
Physicians have played an oversized role in creating this system where costs are resulting in
#FinancialToxicity for patients and society. We must recognize our role as both designers and participants in this system, and work towards a more ideal system. -
Then consider Direct Patient Care as a practice model instead of kowtowing to the hospital/insurance overlords.
-
The type of transformation I am advocating for financially really is one that takes costs out of the picture for patients and doctors. I admire your resolve to educate about costs, but if I’m being honest, I think doctors already have enough on their plates to ask this of all.
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
If only those trusted clinicians could access a real-time benefit check (price) on behalf of patients :)
-
True the information is not available - but even if it were there is no coverage of
#economics in#MedEd to prepare doctors to meet this demand -
Eau contraire, Dr. Nic, see http://pratter.us
-
Delighted to see some visibility of costs but most remain opaque - current solutions dependent on personal contributions and economic gymnastics thanks to the confidential master ledger amongst other things
#economics
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Problem is to truly bend the cost curve trusted providers need more focus on upstream prevention and environment (60+ % of health) vs downstream interventions (20%) . Not cheaper MRIs, but better diet & more activity leading to FEWER MRIs. And that we don’t have either.

- 2 more replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.