Opinion

With HSAs, expect calls to cut fees

LETTER — Posted Jan. 31, 2005

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Regarding "Inform your patients about HSAs" (Editorial, Dec. 20, 2004): Your editorial on health savings accounts bears the good news that there is light at the end of the tunnel that has impeded both good physician-patient relationships and good medicine.

There is a problem: It will not work unless patients -- who are going to be charged retail fees by doctors and hospitals that are many times more than what they get from the government and insurers -- learn to bargain.

Are we ready to give discounts for cash payments and better relationships with our patients?

Olgard Dabbert, MD, San Diego

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/01/31/edlt0131.htm.

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