A hospital refused to accept a patient’s Reference-Based Pricing health plan and demanded cash instead. Their demand was 1,500% of Medicare minus a 5% discount.
The patient said “That’s just fine” and found another hospital ten minutes away willing to accept 85% of Medicare. The surgeon had admitting privileges at both hospitals.
What makes this case unusual is the surgeon intervened and told both hospitals what they should charge for his cash paying patient if they wanted his referral business. He said in effect “I have $15,000 to give you for one hour in OR and a two day stay. You want my referral?”
For our blog readers unfamiliar with the peculiarities of Mississippi southern speak, the expression “That’s just fine!” is a polite way of saying FUCK YOU!
It’s time for plan sponsors to stop being bullied.
