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Originally Posted by Priebehouse
I was in the health insurance business for 30 years. These fees became more prominent when healthcare systems started buying up doctor's individual practices since the costs of doing business increased. Malpractice insurance, rent, personnel, equipment and supplies, etc. and other expenses was making it almost impossible for doctors to be in private practice. As the clinical systems took over, they discovered they could recover their investments by charging facility fees, itemizing charges for supplies and pharmaceuticals.
Think about it. You used to go see your doctor in a small offfice with one or two nurses, an office manager and an assistant. Now you see them in a mega building with all the related equipment and supplies. Somebody pays for that. Medicine has become so complicated as technology has evolved.
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We've been told since forever that combining small medical practices into conglomerates would LOWER costs since equipment is duplicated across many small offices as well as redundant staff. I see this as nothing more than a scam by the health care providers to get more than reimbursements from Medicare. My first thought is "Obamacare"....what was buried in that bill that possibly caused this? Remember Obamacare wasn't forever so I have a feeling some timebombs were planted to keep costs low for a while but sooner or later someone (in this case the consumer) has to pay the piper. Paying facilities fees is just their way of bleeding Medicare recipients directly since secondary insurance providers won't pay the fees either. Just direct out-of-pocket from the victim/patient.