@freemo
...I'm not sure the average doctor is really part of that decision process, or really directly benefits from it...
@Raccoon Sure they do, they decide who they work for, ergo they decide what companies remain in business. If they work for only companies that operate ethically then these hospitals would never thrive.
Nah thats a short sighted view. No the answer to that is you start your own small one person clinic and work independently, as many doctors do. They certainly can afford it.
@freemo Do those exist?
Or are the issues with insurance so systemic that not buying into the system ends up shortchanging the practice, making such honest practices unprofitable in a broken system?
I.e. if prices are inflated because insurance companies insist on spending more resources bartering than paying out, wouldn't an honest doctor practice that gives up-front pricing still have to deal with that and end up taking a loss as a result?