American Morning

Prescription for Waste: Should states regulate hospital rates?

Editor's Note: Tomorrow on American Morning, we'll show you a medical clinic where a bold experiment is panning out. Doctors are happier and patients and bottom lines are healthier. Our Elizabeth Cohen profiles what could be the proto-type for health care of the future.

(CNN) – Would you shop in a store where they charge three times more than their cost for everything they sell? Not likely. But that's what thousands of Americans are doing every day when they check into a hospital.

Hospitals in this country, on average, charge 180% above cost for every procedure performed. Except in Maryland, where state regulation means patients pay a lot less, and often get more. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports for part three of our original series, "Prescription for Waste."

Sound off: Share your health care horror stories with us. Post your comments below.