re: A great article about why America blows...

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ortho surgeons working in a hospital discussing what medicare pays for a hip replacement isn't exactly a good response

there is treatment, even othopedic, outside of hospitals

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According to NNU's data, thetop 10 Most Expensive Hospitals in the U.S. listed according to the huge percentage of their charges relative to their costs are:

1. Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, Secaucus, NJ - 1192%

2. Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center, Painsville, KY - 1186%

3. Orange Park Medical Center, Orange Park, FL - 1139%

4. North Okaloosa Medical Center, Crestview, FL - 1137%

5. Gadsden Regional Medical Center, Gadsden, AL - 1128%

6. Bayonne Medical Center, Bayonne, NJ - 1084%

7. Brooksville Regional Hospital, Brooksville, FL - 1083%

8. Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, Davenport, FL - 1058%

9. Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, PA - 1058%

10. Oak Hill Hospital, Spring Hill, FL - 1052%

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The needless complications of the vast medical marketplace have provided far too many opportunities for profiteering. Numerous examples of hospital visit bills feature enormous overcharges on simple supplies such as over-the-counter painkillers, gauze, bandages and even the markers used to prep patients for surgery. That's not to mention the cost of more advanced procedures and the use of advanced medical equipment which are billed at several times their actual cost. These charges have resulted in many hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges.

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