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Dr. Keith Smith discusses how his early experiences with mentoring surgeons who utilized fair and transparent health care practices are showing that the modern day transparency movement cannot happen fast enough.

source: G. Keith Smith, MD Blog – tumblr.com

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When Ira Horner, 62, found out how much his knee surgery for a torn meniscus was expected to cost, he worried that he would spend the rest of his life in debt.

A floor associate at Hutchinson Oil, in Woodward, Okla., Horner had health insurance through his employer, but it was unclear as to what he would ultimately be expected to pay.

After talking to friends and nurses at the medical center where he was being treated, Horner estimated the surgery would cost at least $16,000, and he’d end up paying about 20 percent of that plus his $1,000 deductible.

source: ABC News

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Pulitzer-winner Tina Rosenberg of The New York Times profiles the Surgery Center of Oklahoma and delves into their unique approach with regards to price transparency.

source: The New York Times

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It is well documented that high deductible health plans (HDHP) are rapidly growing (see here, here, here, and here). It is indisputable that HDHPs have an effect on consumer behavior (not all positive… improperly designed HDHPs result in lower use of preventive screenings). Personally, I have gone from a Cadillac health plan where I paid nothing (literally) to a $10,000 deductible for my family. Let me give you an example. One of my kids needed to have their adenoids removed. Before, we would have blithely gotten the procedure done oblivious to the costs. Instead, I tried mightily to get a price ahead of time so I could negotiate a cash price. Only the surgeon was willing to give me a price for his services. I paid him out of my HSA prior to the surgery and we both came out ahead. Unfortunately, the hospital was unwilling to give me this information. The final bill was close to $10,000. In contrast, the Surgery Center of Oklahoma would have charged $2,695 for the entire procedure.

source: forbes.com

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Health insurers are privately warning brokers that premiums for many individuals and small businesses could increase sharply next year because of the health-care overhaul law, with the nation’s biggest firm projecting that rates could more than double for some consumers buying their own plans.

source: wsj.com

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source: forbes.com

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Hip replacement can cost $10,000 – or $125,000, depending on the hospital, study finds

source: nbcnews.com

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