What is the charge for an aspirin, or a bag of Ringers? For comparison my wife buys Ringers for $10 a bag. I would love to see what a hospital charges for that same bag.It's such a tough thing. Charges are one thing, but negotiated insurance rates are another. I can say my hospital charges $4000 for a level 5 ER visit. You have no idea what separates a level five from a level two, or when the next thing we do bumps you up a level.
The hospital may have a contract with Anthem that allows a $2000 charge, but a contract with United Health that allows $2600. Each patient has diff co-pays and deductibles. At the registration desk, the patient has no idea what these rates will be, or what imaging tests will be ordered, or labs, or meds. Neither does the doc or the nurse.
We can quote charges, but that has almost nothing to do with what the patient will be responsible for. My group collects under 20% of what we bill.
Price transparency is nice but it's hugely complicated and not as clear-cut as it sounds.
When's the last time Congress passed a budget? That's required by law.