The Inquirer (Philly.com) writes of two echocardiograms, same hospital, but drastically different prices: $339 and $3,484. The authors write of prices for even basic medical procedures varying widely from one provider to the next, in part because of the complex — and largely proprietary — negotiations between insurers and providers. Hospitals are notorious for charging many times more than independent doctors, and insurers negotiate deep discounts with certain providers to steer members toward lower cost options.
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