OK, I'll admit I'm using old data, but you are making my point: if medicare
didn't pay 60% of what the commercial insurance pays, then you could keep the
medicare rate at "break even" levels, leave the insurance contract
rate where it is, (since in every case I have seen, it's a "contract
rate" not a "contract discount"), and bring the cash price down
to the insurance discount rate. Suddenly, cash patients can afford to pay, or
pay a higher percentage, which can only serve to reduce what you say is the
"almost none" from failure to pay. (I'm sure that varies by specialty,
practice, and location, but the underlying point is the same; and if there is a
greater disparity due to "failure to pay" and you lessen that, then
everyone's happy). This result, however, will not be reached by MORE government
interference, but by LESS government interference.[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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