National Geographic: Health Care Graphic Worth More Than A Thousand Words

Your arguement is valid. Again, all that I'm pointing out is that relative cost may still be the same with other countries. We make more so we'll spend (pay) more. And maybe our docters *are* better that we end up spending less time. The graph only tells part of the story in my opinion. Just trying to look at it from all sides.

Also, there's no sense in using sarcastic numbers. 5 minutes? really?

 

I agree other than costs, its hard to compare effects of healtcare in this country compare to more homogenous populations of other countries. we have so many more variables being the united states

 

Concur as well, although I feel that what the chart focuses on is exactly that. You cannot convince me that the care I get here in the states is so much better that it justifies the insane costs.

I had emergency surgery last year, and my wife had a c-section. Out of pocket costs, with good insurance was still almost 10k. That's outrageous - how could anyone afford that if you make median income? Heck - I make good money and it still stung like hell, and the c-section was (obviously) planned for.

Hrumph.

 

I love the Patrick Ewing defence of 'we spend a lot, but we make a lot.'

Too bad it's not true. US per person income is not twice that of the other nations on those graphs. In fact, the US comes in about 13th on GDP per person. And not significantly higher then those who rank lower.

 

While it's true I'm often too sarcastic, I wasn't kidding in this case! Doctors increment their time, as I understand it, in 5-minute chunks.

Not sure when you last saw a doctor, but my last two appointments lasted (I timed them!) 5 minutes, and 10 minutes respectively. Weird.

 

You friendly neighborhood medical billing and coding instructor is here to help! :grin:

A typical outpatient visit for a new patient is CPT code 99201-99205. Now there are several factors that are involved in determining the level (1-5) that is chosen to do this coding.

However time wise it goes like this:

Level 1 99201 is 10 minutes
Level 2 99202 is 20 minutes
Level 3 99203 is 30 minutes
Level 4 99204 is 45 minutes
Level 5 99205 is 60 minutes

Codes are chosen based on history, examination, and medical decision making not just on a stopwatch but there are the typical expected times. As you go higher (1-5) reimbursement is higher.

Some codes are based purely on time, for example critical care service codes 99291 is based on 30-74 minutes, 75-104 minutes, 105-134 minutes, 135-164 minutes, 165-194 minutes, and 194 minutes or longer. Much higher reimbursement rates of course.

 

Question for anyone who can answer: if an uninsured person gets treated at a hospital and can't pay the bill, who does? Does the hospital eat it as a loss if they can't squeeze it from the patient, or do they end up getting it paid for by the government?

 

i'm going to guess that the hospital eats the costs, therefore the costs are passed on to paying consumers, therefore the claim that everyone pays for it.

 

It depends if the hospital is public or private. If it is a public hospital (e.g., Ben Taub), then the county taxpayers pay (or state taxpayers if it is UTMB). If it is a private hospital, then the hospital eats the cost, but it will be passed on to paying consumers. I believe the cost is also indirectly paid by taxpayers by way of Medicare and Medicaid charges since hospitals are allowed to pass on some overhead charges as part of the rates. However, that is a very complex area and I do not understand exactly how it works.