The Chargemaster

[Jolly]

This is very interesting...

https://www.lawweekcolorado.com/article/justices-appear-skeptical-about-hospital-contract-requiring-patient-to-pay-six-figure-sticker-price/

[Mik]

Now here is a subject on which I am very familiar - the charge master. All of which is a glorified name for a price list. To try to decipher it is way, way beyond the ken of mortal man.

It is unconscionable that the hospital would go after this poor woman for the full amount and that the court would side with the provider.

[Jolly]

I used to write the lab side of the Chargemaster.

It is fiction writ large.

[Mik]

We can tie it back to the UCR process brought to you by Medicare.

[Jolly]

Case-in-point... My instrument and reagent cost for a glucose level was 13 cents. All inclusive (labor, building, electricity, etc.) cost was approximately a quarter. My chargemaster price was $26.00. Reimbursement from Medicare at the time was around $8, IIRC. Private insurance came in at about $13-$14.