Do you get asked to give away your work for free?

[lovcom]

The fact that you were an office manager that produced financial software is great but irrelevant. That's great that you understand fee structures but again irrelevant. I am not "twisting" your words. My point is with all things being equal, looking for the best doctor shouldn't be based primarily on prices.

No disrespect, but remember you are/were an "administrator". By no means does that make you an expert on what the best treatment is for a patient. Nor do you understand what it means to care for a sick person. Again, I never stated the best doctors were the most expensive. If anything, you're the one fabricating statements. Again, my point is don't make a treatment decision for a serious medical condition because it's cheaper from another doctor IF it's financially feasible.

I am not an administrtor.

I am not a doctor.

I am not an office manager.

I am an expert in systems that manage physician office functions.

I have clients all over the nation that use my software.

You twist words because you continuly fail to admit that I several times now said to SHOP PRICE WITH DOCTORS THAT ARE SPECIALISTS, AND EXPERTS IN WHATEVER PROCEDURE YOU NEED, AND HAVING A GREAT REPUTATION. I NEVER SAID ONE SHOULD ONLY SHOP PRICE AS YOU COSTANTLY CONTEND.

I don't think I can be more clear.....lol!!

[m3racer]

I am not an administrtor.

I am not a doctor.

I am not an office manager.

I am an expert in systems that manage physician office functions.

I have clients all over the nation that use my software.

You twist words because you continuly fail to admit that I several times now said to SHOP PRICE WITH DOCTORS THAT ARE SPECIALISTS, AND EXPERTS IN WHATEVER PROCEDURE YOU NEED, AND HAVING A GREAT REPUTATION. I NEVER SAID ONE SHOULD ONLY SHOP PRICE AS YOU COSTANTLY CONTEND.

I don't think I can be more clear.....lol!!

LOL....hey misunderstandings happen on these boards all the time...

[Inkstain82]

You should look for VALUE. That means good quality at a good price. You can't just look at price. Sometimes things are cheaper because they are inferior.

Absolutely. But sometimes I don't mind inferior.

If I've got a brain tumor, I'll pay whatever I've got for you to save my life.

If I've got a sore shoulder, then I can live with it being 80% fixed if it's going to save me a lot of money.

Incidentally, I've had a bum shoulder for years, and I don't mind living with it to save the expense of having it checked out and possibly fixed.

[markusk]

I think that is part of the big disconnect in healthcare. There is no relationship between paying from the pocket and reality. If there was real competition. Doctors could post, advertise their fees, offer discounts or not, etc. When LASIK was all the rage, there were huge pricing differences. And a cheaper fee does not mean a lesser quality. In fact, doctors who do more volume are often much more skilled and experienced and can then offer discounts. As for doctor "reputation", I know some doctors who are skilled at bedside manner but not so much in the OR and others with pretty dull or gruff personalities that are fantastic surgeons. So, that really doesn't tell you much either.

Interesting stats about LASIK and other proceedures typically NOT covered by healthplans: prices at high when the proceedure is new, but go down over time as more and more physicians offer it and patients "shop" to get "the best doctor for the best price," since they have to pay out of pocket.

When proceedures are covered by healthplans, prices are high when new and even as more physicians offer the proceedure, prices do not generally go down and can in fact go up. There is no "incentive" to "shop around" since you are not paying for it out of pocket.

[Scanner]

I am a chiropractor and of course I get asked sometimes (or most of the time, the hint is subtle) to give free treatment. After all, it's just a "moment" of my time, right?

This actually used to a be a huge problem for the profession in the golden age of the 80's (insurance age). A big illegal practice the generation before me did was NOOPE.

"No out of pocket expense."

They would waive all copays and then just bill the insurance. The patients ate it up because it was a "free treatment" to them and the chiropractor liked it because he may be getting $100/visit and what's $20? It kept the volume flowing. The problem with this was:

A. It's illegal because it cost shifts. Some ins. co.'s did successfully prosecute.
B. It's unfair to chiropractors like me, who do charge a copay, because I still get from time to time, Dr. Oldtimer never charged me a copay, why do you?
C. It ended up devalueing the service somewhat because people didn't get used to reaching into their pocket for it, a necessary component for healing IMO.

God, I hated B.

I want to say they should lock up Dr. Oldtimer in the slammer and you too.

Anyway, since copays have risen and reimbursement has declined, this has dropped off a lot. Still happens though.

I beleive it sets a dangerous precedent to give your services away.

I'd rather see 10 patients/day at $100/visit than 100 patients/day at $10/visit.

[cptacek]

I'm in IT. I get asked to clean up people's computers all the time. This is what it usually ends up being, though:
xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe

[syracusa]

Yes. I am a professor, and consistently get requests for help with the PhD program from my sister. Glad to do it, in fact I kind of see it as my duty.
I fear a world where every last human exchange is done via cash.