Bitter Pill: The Exorbitant Prices of Health Care in America

by Robert Wilkinson

Though the videos no longer exist, the healthland article is still good. This TIME magazine expose was exceptional, and I hope they rerun it sometime. It about the skyrocketing health care cost scam being run by hospital corporations in the US.

The first was a 3 min 38 sec short interview of Steven Brill, who talked to TIME magazine about his cover story “on the outrageous pricing and egregious profits that are destroying our health care.” In the video clip he speaks about the outrageous profits made by hospitals, such as how hospitals will charge $77 for a box of gauze pads that costs one dollar at drug stores. We also find that hospitals make outrageous profits on everything from the drugs they price ridiculously high to procedures like CAT scans that don’t cost them a dime, but which will cost us thousands of dollars.

The two videos were offered via TIME's "Bitter Pill" series. The first video was Bitter Pill: The Exorbitant Prices of Health Care and the second was Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us, an in-depth look at the cover story on TIME magazine.

Here’s a link to Inside the TIME cover story on medical bills and “Bitter Pill.”

Many nations in the world take care of their people better than the US. Of course, most of you reading this already knew that. I always figured all of us deserve a guarantee to food, shelter, education, and the best health care that’s available. But then, I don’t make the rules. The vulture capitalists do, to the detriment of us all.

© Copyright 2013 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[LB]

Yes! Thanks Robert, for posting this. All of us deserve quality health care and shouldn't have to 'earn' it; this thinking -as well as the inherent problems within our current medical model- are all symptoms of what I believe Chris Hedges meant when he wrote about "The False Idol of Unfettered Capitalism".

Coincidentally, HR676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act (Universal Health Care), was reintroduced just last week. Rep John Conyers has been introducing (or *re*introducing) the bill every congress since 2003 and says he'll continue to do so until it passes. We can support this bill by staying informed and by urging our elected representatives (via phone, email, peaceful gatherings, etc.) to sign on as co-sponsors.

This bill would address routine price gouging on the part of insurance companies - one of the major players in our corrupt system. So many elements of our health care system are broken and in need of repair, and to be sure, there's much more to do and many more issues to be tackled. The biggest challenge seems to be in educating people and changing their minds about what really matters. . . other humans.:) And then to convince them to put their principles into action, remembering that: "Faith without works is dead."

[debbie]

As controversial as it apparently is and often referred to humourously, it is true, we are given life and nature gives everything everyone and every other living thing on this planet needs to live this life well, then humans decide they own pieces of natures provision including land, to cultivate that which is natures provisions and charge that not everyone is now able to be given what they need. We receive the gift of life by divine nature then are told we have to pay or suffer, this to me, is a prime example of every single evil ever suggested to not be tempted by. ah well, nature is still in charge, believe it or not and when all is done maybe then we need to review how intelligent we have been.

For those working the good and hard work to genuinely heal whatever is their commitment to do so to keep going and not waste valuable energy focussing on what is disintegrating, it is possible to be in charge of our own healing, divine nature is a powerful ally.

[matilija poppy]

the monthly bill for my mother's basic Hospice care is $10,000. this does not include charges for visits/care by the hospice nurses, the hospice m.d., or any supplies (depends, ensure, salves, antibiotics, etc.). these charges are itemized on a monthly basis and are in addition to the basic care cost. all of it is billed to medicare and my mother's secondary insurance. the charges for her skilled nursing home are $8,000 per month in addition to the hospice care charges. the skilled nursing home care charges are paid for by a wealthy relative.

it is disgusting that medicare even pays such outrageous charges. and yet, we are "blessed" to have a wealthy relative to pay the nursing home costs and the premiums for the secondary insurance.

[mike]

I am a single, unemployed male under the age of 65, living in Texas. Texas does not provide Medicaid to single males or males without dependents. We males are to seek "free clinics" that charge patients on a sliding-scale depending on the patient's income. I make zero dollars and cannot provide income verification, therefore, I do not qualify for free or sliding-scale services...I have to pay full charges. Most states have this same provision.

I read the entirety of Steven Brill's excellent Time article and was amazed at his depth of reporting. Yes, it's time to take some of the heat off of health insurers and blow-torch the health providers.

Thanks for the referral to his report!

[Robert]

Here's a great retort to the article courtesy of Slate which opines that the author of the above article ignored a large part of our healthcare expense problem by not speaking to the outrageous amount we pay doctors for outcomes that are no better than the rest of the world.

America’s Overpaid Doctors

I agree with his premise that we should have Medicare for All!!