Hospital charges are getting new attention with the pending end of contract relations between Highmark Inc. and UPMC. Highmark members who want to see UPMC doctors after Jan. 1 will have to pay a percentage of UPMC charges, which will be discounted by 40 percent. Highmark will pick up a portion of the out-of-network bills, but members will have to pay the balance of the charges, which vary among hospitals for the same service. Pricing transparency is getting new attention as employer groups seek to identify the highest quality, lowest cost doctors and hospitals. Hospital charges are a key part of comparative shopping for health care.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
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