Anonymous wrote:I'm a Hopkins employee and have CareFirst insurance through Hopkins. I bet they'll reach an agreement.

+1 NP.

I had the same happen to me out west 15 years ago with BCBS with our Pediatrician's office. I freaked and went out to look for a new Ped. Then got a letter later stating that they "reached an agreement".

Someone posted the letter from Hopkins. Take note here:

we are doing everything we can to reach a fair agreement with CareFirst before the December deadline. While we negotiate to stay in the CareFirst network

Leads me to believe they will settle given how Carefirst has a huge customer base.

The letter is a CYA just in case, and also IMO, a way to have the patients put pressure on Carefirst to settle.

Anonymous wrote:When hospitals are billing $2k for a simple ultrasound (I got one on the exact same machine in China for $7) or $3k just to sit in an ER bed for six hours waiting for someone to see you (I did this in Europe for $40 as a non-citizen), the problem is not insurance reimbursement rates. Get your sh*t together Hopkins (and all other healthcare "providers")

Just to elaborate on this, as I was in the hospital I got one bag of morphine drip which was billed $800. Apparently the actual cost of a morphine drip is something like $40. I got two ibuprofen before I left which they billed $150 for. Yes, one hundred and fifty dollars for TWO IBUPROFEN TABLETS. Sitting in an empty bed IN THE HALLWAY was billed $800. The total cost to them is washing sheets. They ran a standard blood test which was billed $400 (I paid for a similar blood test $20 out of pocket at another provider). Then numerous other fake charges. Our healthcare system is a wreck.

Anonymous wrote:When hospitals are billing $2k for a simple ultrasound (I got one on the exact same machine in China for $7) or $3k just to sit in an ER bed for six hours waiting for someone to see you (I did this in Europe for $40 as a non-citizen), the problem is not insurance reimbursement rates. Get your sh*t together Hopkins (and all other healthcare "providers")

The ER is extremely expensive, that's why they try to encourage you to go to urgent care for minor things. But people still do go to the ER for a cold or a small scrape - which raises the cost for everyone (except them, if they're uninsured).

Anonymous wrote:When hospitals are billing $2k for a simple ultrasound (I got one on the exact same machine in China for $7) or $3k just to sit in an ER bed for six hours waiting for someone to see you (I did this in Europe for $40 as a non-citizen), the problem is not insurance reimbursement rates. Get your sh*t together Hopkins (and all other healthcare "providers")

OK Mr./Mrs. insurance lobbyist.

When hospitals are billing $2k for a simple ultrasound (I got one on the exact same machine in China for $7) or $3k just to sit in an ER bed for six hours waiting for someone to see you (I did this in Europe for $40 as a non-citizen), the problem is not insurance reimbursement rates. Get your sh*t together Hopkins (and all other healthcare "providers")

Anonymous wrote:Let's be real, the actual crime here is medical providers being asked to cut their reimbursements by 20% every year. What industry cuts their rates every year??

Private insurance are money grabbers, for sure.

But medical costs are also out of control. My DD had a 5 min telehealth appt to discuss a very minor issue and we were billed almost $250. Insurance negotiated rate of $190.

And look at the greedy pharmaceutical companies charging insane prices for insulin, epipens, etc.

Anonymous wrote:That's frustrating.

Insurance is a hot mess and it's expensive.

Private insurance is a racket.

Anonymous wrote:This strikes me as an attempt to encourage patients who have carefirst to contact the insurer and urge them to reach a deal.

+1 I bet they will reach an agreement.

Anonymous wrote:BCBS in this area is too big especially with the Fed option for Hopkins to drop them. They literally can't survive without it. This is to help negotiate their rates. This is like when you get a warning that your TV provider is dropping ESPN. In the end they figure it out.

I don't care.

Stop gambling with goddamn peoples' health.

This country and system is sick.

BCBS in this area is too big especially with the Fed option for Hopkins to drop them. They literally can't survive without it. This is to help negotiate their rates. This is like when you get a warning that your TV provider is dropping ESPN. In the end they figure it out.

Let's be real, the actual crime here is medical providers being asked to cut their reimbursements by 20% every year. What industry cuts their rates every year??

This strikes me as an attempt to encourage patients who have carefirst to contact the insurer and urge them to reach a deal.

Anonymous wrote:Is this what Fed BCBS is? BCBS Basic and Standard?

Their claims are usually paid through Carefirst in the DC and Maryland area, so probably.

Is this what Fed BCBS is? BCBS Basic and Standard?

I'm a Hopkins employee and have CareFirst insurance through Hopkins. I bet they'll reach an agreement.