Opinion
With HSAs, expect calls to cut fees
LETTER — Posted Jan. 31, 2005
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.