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SQL2219

Need surgery? Here are the prices:

https://surgerycenterok.com/pricing/

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A price list like this should be mandatory for all doctors.

Should software developers and lawyers also have upfront pricelists for all services?

I will gladly develop a cure for cancer, for the low, low price of $20B.

When I hire a software developer or a lawyer I get an upfront price list. Would you hire a lawyer that either would not give you any price or told you "it costs between 2000 and 60000 depending on your insurance and some other factors we won't tell you"?

The difference is law, software, car repair, home remodels, etc, are all man-made systems. Medicine is dealing with a system that I think we can all agree man did not make.

A hospital is a very man made system and most tools they use are man made too. Most procedures are pretty standard too. There is no reason that they can't publish numbers other than that it's beneficial to them to keep them secret. Insurances have these numbers too but they don't want to publish them either. Everybody knows the pricing, the only participant being kept in the dark is the customer, aka patient who eventually has to pay.

Software folks mostly do: "I will do mgmt's random projects and requests for $xxxxxx a year."

Doctors mostly work on a similar principle: "I will take whatever comes through that door and then fill out the billing the hospital requests, which will be further worked out by the hospital, and hopefully I get paid after a month or so."

Article says:

  ..that price would include everything from airfare to the organization's only facility..

Their own pricing disclaimer says otherwise:

  Lodging and travel expenses are not included in the price of the procedures.

There seems to be a huge host of pricing disclaimers for every procedure, such as pre-screening and MRIs not included, etc. thus making the article's claim that "the all-inclusive price for every operation is listed on the website" to be false.

Its pretty ridiculous to have a single fee that includes airfare, doctor's are not travel agents...

From the web site:

"Expenses or fees resulting from complications subsequent to the completion of the surgery and discharge from the facility are also not included." https://surgerycenterok.com/pricing-disclaimer/

Complications e.g. infection can run up expenses almost without limit. And you're likely to be in no condition to get up and take your business elsewhere.

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