GAO Questions Hospital Pricing Deals
The government watchdog questions whether hospitals are properly reporting revenue received from group purchasing organizations. Meanwhile, federal investigators, posing as consumers, investigated prices of a colonoscopy and a hernia repair. Often, they had trouble getting answers.
The Charlotte Observer:
GAO Urges Study Of How Hospitals Report Some Fees
A government watchdog report says the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration should determine whether hospitals are properly reporting revenue they can receive from group purchasing organizations such as Charlotte-based Premier to make sure Medicare payments aren’t being affected. The report, released last week by the Government Accountability Office, also drew sharp criticism from a physicians group that said the findings did not address their allegations that GPOs are contributing to generic prescription drug shortages. (Rothacker, 11/26)
The Oregonian:
Hospital Costs Vary Widely In Portland, Information Difficult To Get, GAO Report Finds
Federal employees posing as consumers dialed a dozen outpatient clinics and hospitals in Portland last year, asking about the cost of two common procedures -- a colonoscopy and a hernia repair. Sometimes they got answers. Sometimes they didn't, even after calling three times. (Terry, 11/26)
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that many hospitals are reluctant to be designated as Ebola treatment facilities because of the cost and stigma -
The Washington Post:
U.S. Hospitals Wary Of Caring For Ebola Patients Because Of Cost And Stigma
U.S. officials trying to set up a network of hospitals in this country to care for Ebola patients are running into reluctance from facilities worried about steep costs, unwanted attention and the possibility of scaring away other patients. “They’re saying, ‘Look, we might be willing to do this, but we don’t want to be called an Ebola hospital. We don’t want people to be cancelling appointments left and right,’ ” said Michael Bell, director of laboratory safety at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Sun and Dennis, 11/28)