When it comes to the cost of health care, Congress and our congresswoman do a lot of arguing over who pays the bill, but not why the bill is so large in the first place. Both Obamacare and the Republican replacement proposal only cover who foots the bill.
Recently a surgical patient complained he paid “$1,200 for each of six titanium (bone) screws” used by his surgeon. That is a lot to pay for a screw, especially when orthopedic surgeons agree, as long as a screw meets certain requirements for diameter, length and whether the screw is made of titanium or stainless steel, “a screw is a screw is a screw.” Yet the cost of a simple bone screw can range from hundreds at one hospital to thousands at another, even though it is just a simple titanium bone screw that can be bought, in any size, from a veterinary supply for $11.50 each.
Health insurance companies are part of our cost problem, but they are not the whole problem. Until you, I, and Congress address the reasons why our bills are so large in the first place, we will continue to get screwed by the cost of health care.
