[TheSpecialist]

I recently had shoulder surgery, and yesterday I got a bill from the Anesthesiologist. I only have to pay $10.00.

I read the breakdown of charges and was shocked. This is one of the biggest scams and problems with our healthcare system.

They billed the following:

Shoulder Arthroscopy/Surgery 1875.00
Nerve Block Inj Brachial Plexus 800.00
Echo Guide For BIOPSY 268.00

The echo guide was use to place the nerve block, and was sitting in the prep room, the used it for like 5 minutes maybe 10.

Here is how the bill was paid:

BcBs payment:

Surgery 862.80
Nerve Block 71.93
Echo Guide 48.51

BcBs writeoff :

Surgery 1012.20
Nerve Block 718.07
Echo 219.49


All told my insurance payed 983.24 and was billed 2943.00 for services

The Anesthesiologist wrote off 1949.76, and are billing me for $10.

Now I don't care about $10.00, what bugs me is that they obviously grossly overcharge for services. Because they must have made money to accept the negotiated payment from BcBs and this is why our healthcare system, and health insurance system suck. This needs to be fixed in order for the US to move ahead.