Health Affairs, 25, no. 1 (2006): 45-56 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.25.1.45 © 2006 by Project HOPE	New Online   Pay Cuts For Medicare Docs   Access To Care Woes   Public Coverage More Efficient   Empowering Consumers

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Pricing & Payment

The Precarious Pricing System For Hospital Services

Over the past twenty-five years, the average ratio of hospital charges for services (gross revenues) to payments received (net revenues) has grown from 1.1 to 2.6. This reflects a transition from predominantly cost- and charge-based payment systems to regulated and negotiated fixed payments. Hospitals have been able to squeeze additional revenues from remaining charge-based payers and services by sharply increasing charges, negatively affecting the uninsured. Although protection of the uninsured seems warranted, it might be difficult to regulate hospital pricing systems in isolation from other controversial issues, such as the acceptability of cross-subsidies and the role of market forces.

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