In Health Care, it’s “CAVEAT EMPTOR! “

Recently, CNN has run a series about “shopping” for the best bargains in health care. With increasing deductibles and co-pays, this has become more and more important to the average patient, and I commend CNN for their series, but want to offer some “caveats.”

First, and foremost, remember that when it comes to health care, quality trumps price every time. An inexpensive test is overpriced if it is incorrectly interpreted, and surgery is too expensive if a lower price brings increased risk. Many services should be “shopped,” but with the understanding that you need to compare apples to apples. Is the center doing the MRI for half price using the same generation equipment? Will it find the same problems? Can they charge less because less time is taken with each patient? Do the doctors at a hospital charging less for a particular surgery perform less than half of that type of surgery than the physicians at the higher priced hospital (usually a university center or teaching hospital)? If so, their complication rate may be higher simply because the OR staff lack the experience of the higher priced center.

The time has come for patients to shop for the lowest prices for health care services, especially when they are paying with their own money (no, I’m not getting into the debate as to what is “their own money” now), but each of us should remember the ancient admonition, “Caveat Emptor;” let the buyer beware!  ALWAYS choose quality over price in health care. That way, you’ll live to pay it off.