By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    Best Ways to Boost Your Immune System this Winter
    November 15, 2022
    back pain issues
    Ways to Treat Constant Back Pain
    August 21, 2023
    Latest News
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    More On Wellness Programs To Improve Health and Reduce Costs
    January 25, 2012
    Privatizing Social Security and Medicare: Who Can Defuse Political Dynamite?
    June 12, 2011
    Study: Risk of Death in Elderly Patients with Dementia Doubled with Some Antipsychotic Medications
    February 26, 2012
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Facility Fees For Office Visits: What is the Role of Health Plans?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Finance > Facility Fees For Office Visits: What is the Role of Health Plans?
BusinessFinanceHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

Facility Fees For Office Visits: What is the Role of Health Plans?

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Yesterday’s Boston Globe article (Hospital charges bring a backlash) was spot on. Reporter Liz Kowalczyk nailed the topic:

Yesterday’s Boston Globe article (Hospital charges bring a backlash) was spot on. Reporter Liz Kowalczyk nailed the topic:

  • Hospitals are adding facility fees in the hundreds of dollars for many visits to hospital-owned physician practices, even when those practices are nowhere near the hospital
  • Facility fees are becoming more common as hospitals purchase formerly independent physician practices and tack on the fees
  • Patients are pushing back. One reason is that more of them have high deductible plans that force the patient to bear more of the cost
  • Insurance companies are aware of the issue but have generally been allowing the fees

I’ve been following this topic for some time, and for me the last two bullet points are the intriguing ones. In December (Facility fees for hospital-owned physician offices: A nasty surprise for patients) I wrote:

In general health plans and self-insured employers have just put up with the high charges or haven’t made it a priority. The biggest difference now is that patients are being exposed to the facility fees and finding that they owe much more after a test than they used to. So while hospitals used to shrug their shoulders at the issue in the past, they find it a little harder now.

This situation presents health plans with an opportunity to demonstrate what value they can add. Health plans should have identified this issue earlier and taken more vigorous steps to oppose it than they have, but many lack the data and analytic tools to pinpoint the shift, some may be in a weak negotiating position relative to the major hospital systems, or may have accepted the facility fees in exchange for other concessions.

Now that consumers have identified the issue and the Globe has focused attention on it, I’ll be interested to see what health plans do. If they don’t take steps it will call into question the value they bring to their customers and will invite intervention from the state.

 

TAGGED:facility fees
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025
a woman giving a key
How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
Health
July 16, 2025
a woman with kinesio tapes on her back arm
How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

Social Media, Diet and Cancer

October 25, 2011
Hospital Readmissions
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformHospital AdministrationPolicy & LawPublic Health

Hospital Readmissions Are Costing Us $26 Billion Annually

December 21, 2014

Germany’s No-Nukes Decision

June 1, 2011

Grand Rounds Vol. 7 No. 38

June 14, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?