Overcharging Hospitals, the cause of Hospitals Overcharging

SPEED MEDIA | 11.13.2024

Why overcharging hospitals are the cause of hospitald overcharging, using the estimated maximum cost burden on a hospital for a simple UTI:

Assumptions

1. Large, modern hospital with state-of-the-art equipment

2. Slow day with 3 patients per hour

3. Continuous monitoring for all patients

4. -All- staff entirely and solely focused on the 3 patients, with costs divided by 3.

5. Patients are paying for the entire facilities water and electricity during this time.

Estimated Costs

Equipment (3 hours)

1. CT Scanner: $184.20

2. CT Injection System: $12.42

3. Certegra Workstation: $0.78

4. CBC Machine: $18.00

5. Apollo Acute Care Bed: $0.24

6. Monitoring: $1.32

Consumables

1. Iodixanol: $40

2. Saline dose: $3.30

3. CBC/Urine testing: $10.89

4. Clean catch cup: $0.20

5. Blood vial: $1.55

6. IV care administration set: $1.35

7. Saline bag: $6.30

8. Vacutainer Push Button Collector: $1.19

9. 14 panel Uranalysis: $0.30

Staff Costs (3 hours, divided by 3 patients)

1. Lab Tech: $25

2. Security: $17

3. ER DR: $118

4. ER RN: $48

5. ER AID NURSES (2): $46

6. Triage: $35

Radiologist Cost (1 hour)

1. Radiologist: $166

Building and Utilities

1. Building: $513

2. Electricity: $100.40

3. Water: $11.64

Total Estimated Maximum Cost

$983.91 + $166 = $1,149.91

Note

1. The estimated cost presented above highlights the disparity between actual hospital costs for emergency care and charges billed to uninsured patients.

2. Comparable ER visits at smaller hospitals can cost uninsured patients around $4,300.

3. This suggests significant profit margins, exceeding 275%, considering reduced costs at smaller hospitals.

Cost Exclusion Note

This estimate excludes negligible costs (below $0.01/hour) and insurance claims processing fees, irrelevant to uninsured patients. Examples include:

1. Minor supplies (gloves, gauze,etc)

2. Administrative overhead

Call to Action

The healthcare system faces critical challenges:

- Overcharging and insurance rejection lead to hospital closures and systemic failures.

- Overlegislation for self-diagnosable issues complicates emergency care for simple infections.

- Excessive compensation ($350+ for minimal diagnostics) perpetuates inefficiency.

To create sustainable healthcare:

1. Prioritize affordable care over profits.

2. Enhance pricing transparency.

3. Reduce administrative costs.

4. Boost efficiency in care delivery.

5. Foster public awareness and advocacy.

We should all advocate for compassionate healthcare, and not doing so hurts everyone.

Forcing the public to cover the costs of irresponsible budgeting, overpriced schooling and non adjusted wages during record-breaking debt and tough economic times is not permanently sustainable.

***Pictured is Avail Hospital of Lake Charles, which has been shut down after over-charging patients, one example is charging an estimated $1200 to monitor 02 levels with the finger pulse ox monitor, calling it a procedure, as if it were a surgery.