Editor's Note: On Monday, as Congress continues to grapple with proposed health care reform, American Morning’s audience zeroed in on health care waste. Many thanked CNN for the investigative series, while sharing solutions as well as their own health care horror stories.
- James: GREAT commentary on waste in the health care industry. It was an eye opener to hear of $1000 mischarge for a toothbrush. I PRAY you will take this further and show how much a toothbrush normally costs during a hospital stay, no just when there is a mischarge. If the regular household cringes at Joe The Plumber's bill, that will run in horror at what the hospital charges! The health care industry has become a government sanctioned monopoly and as a country we can't afford it. Please join in; we can't afford to get sick. The Obama plan is NOT the solution. It perpetuates the problem!
- Gina: If I was an Ins. Comp. & was to Ins. YOU I would have a monthly statement to go out to Insured like a credit card statement. An itemized Bill that either your Dr. Hospital, or testing Facility carded them for including an year end statement what you & employer paid vs how much you spent. Like a credit you must pay at certain date with a HCare credit card you must verify at certain date that charges our carrier paid for is correct...with a small fine for not complying.....This will certainly keep down costs & Medicare & Caid should do the same.....You know […] well if something is fishy on your credit cards, you call up screaming to high […] right..same should be on Hcare.
- Mary: Hairdresser for 40 some years. Man stories I could tell of either my clients or the others working there. One lady came in with her laminated bill of her aging husband that was charged for labor room and delivery room plus. The hospital dunning her for over 6 months as Medicare refused to pay the bill. Funniest thing I ever heard. Not only her husband an old man, but hardly have a baby. When my children born 1966, 1970, 1977, 1980, I brought the Kotex to the hospital to keep from exorbitant charges of at first $29.99, then, it was $36, then last two was close to $59. Brought my own aspirin. Remember hospitals buy in bulk and wholesale. Not in the store things. Vets for animals are equally as horrifying. Why so many pets get euthanized because vets are overcharging for services and products. I was purchasing some of that tainted dog food in which my dog's kidney's were bleeding at $80 a whack, and buying it from the vet. I now cook for my dogs.
What do you think? Is there a better way to prevent waste in the health care system? Continue the conversation below.