Midland Daily News OPINION Piece: Ending hospital price gouging can save my patients money, protect their health

Excerpt: “One trend I continue to marvel at in health care is the never ending escalation of costs to my patients – and the many ways corporate entities find to squeeze more money out of people. 

Hospitals have jumped on this bandwagon of profits by adding extra hospital fees and charges for routine medical procedures that a patient gets at so-called hospital outpatient departments, or locations hospitals deem “hospital-based settings.” Hospital systems are buying up independent physician practices, changing the sign on the door, and raising the prices for the same services. 

The price for a patient to get medication administered at a regular doctor’s office is about $250. The same medication, with the same doctor and the same staff, administered at a location a hospital system categorizes as an outpatient department or a hospital-based setting, however, would suddenly jump in price, to around $664. “

Full article in the Midland Daily News HERE.