“If You’re Poor, You’re Dead”: Brits Shocked at U.S. Health Costs in Viral Video

“So, if you’re poor, you’re dead,” was one British woman’s reaction to finding out the sky-high cost of healthcare in the U.S. in a video that went viral this week.

“So, if you’re poor, you’re dead,” was one British woman’s reaction to finding out the sky-high cost of healthcare in the United States in a video that went viral this past week.

The video, which was released on Tuesday by @PoliticsJOE_UK on Twitter and has since been retweeted more than 30,000 times, asked people on the streets of Britain how much they thought certain healthcare products, services, and procedures cost in America for the uninsured.

Upon learning the cost of calling an ambulance ($2,500), an inhaler ($250-$350), two EpiPens ($600), childbirth ($10,000-$30,000), and an IUD ($1,300) the participants were completely gob smacked.

People in the U.K. receive healthcare through the National Health System, which is a comprehensive public health service administered by the government and paid for through taxation.

Upon finding out how much healthcare costs in the U.S., one man was then asked if it makes him grateful for the NHS. “Absolutely, absolutely,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t know how much free healthcare we got, like, just off the bat. But knowing you have to pay like $30,000 for a child, it’s outrageous. It’s really ridiculous.”

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Where Healthcare Costs the Most

In Anchorage, AK healthcare prices are nearly 2.5 times higher than in Baltimore, MD. How do other cities costs stack up?

Healthcare costs have rapidly increased across the nation, but focusing on an average amount for the country doesn’t necessarily capture just how high they’ve skyrocketed in some areas.

To give Americans a better picture of price levels and growth rates across the nation, the Health Care Cost Institute analyzed over 1.78 billion commercial healthcare claims and compared the average prices paid for the same services across 112 metro areas.

Here are the top ten cities with the highest healthcare costs and how they compare to the national average, according to HCCI’s Healthy Market Index:

  1. Anchorage, AK — 65% above the national average
  2. San Jose, CA — 65% above the national average
  3. San Francisco, CA — 49% above the national average
  4. Milwaukee, WI — 17% above the national average
  5. Green Bay, WI — 14% above the national average
  6. San Diego, CA — 12% above the national average
  7. Los Angeles, CA — 11% above the national average
  8. Trenton, NJ — 10% above the national average
  9. New York City, NY — 10% above the national average
  10. Portland, OR — 7% above the national average

The city with the lowest comparative cost in the country was Baltimore, MD, which is 33% below the national average.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Advanced Practitioners Bolster Practice Revenue, Productivity

Primary care practices with a non-physician provider to physician ratio of 0.41 or greater reported earnings of $100K+ more in healthcare revenue per physician.

A recent report from the Medical Group Management Association, which compiled data from 2,900 organizations, shows that primary care practices that employ a higher number of non-physician providers, such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners, generate greater healthcare revenue, as well as increase productivity. The 2018 MGMA DataDive Cost and Revenue report showed that physician-owned primary care practices earned $100,749 more in healthcare revenue per physician, and hospital-owned primary care practices earned $131,770 more in revenue per physician, by employing more non-physician providers, specifically a non-physician provider to physician ratio of 0.41 or greater. The data revealed that primary care practice operating expenses are increasing, as well, and have grown 13% since 2013, from $391,798 per physician to $441,559 per physician, which makes the added revenue from employing advanced practitioners essential. The data shows that leveraging physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other non-physician providers could help medical practices overcome the growing burden of higher operating expenses, while also improving access to care and patient satisfaction.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

High-end, High-cost Concierge Medicine for America’s Wealthiest Widens Healthcare Divide

Ultra-elite concierge practices say business is booming.

from FierceHealthcare

As millions of Americans struggle to pay their medical bills and worry that they may lose insurance coverage if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, many of the wealthiest in the nation receive five-star treatment from doctors and hospitals if they are willing to fork over a five-figure annual fee. And apparently, they are more than willing. Ultra-elite concierge practices say business is booming.

Read More →

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.