First, your comparison does not take into account inflation.
Secondly, no one actually pays $5 for aspirin in the hospital! They
"charge" that in order to recieve what it costs them. Private insurance
may pay only $2, and medicate only 60% of that, or $1.20. Keep in mind
that pays for more then just aspirin.
When you receive aspirin in the hospital the hospital has the following
expenses related to that:
-The salary of the nurse or CNA who has to count, administer, and chart
your aspirin.
-The cost of securing that aspirin in a keyed room because of federal
regulations.
-The cost of the disposable cups they have to use to give you the dose in.
-The cost of inventorying and tracking every aspirin to meet federal
regulations.
Should the hospital not be allowed to charge enough to cover their real
expense in supplying that to you?
This is no different then a restaurant that charges $10 for a burger you
can make at home for $1. We are willing to pay that because we
understand that the restaurant has overhead in salaries, supplies,
inventory, and utilities. We just don't that a hospital passes those
expenses onto the consumer, but should they all lose money by only
charging us the strict cost of goods?
Kelly
On 7/3/2012 7:26 AM, Elizabeth Quinn wrote:
>
> Costs are definitely out of control. There is no reason aspirin should
> cost $5 in a hospital! My parents sent me the original bill from when
> I was born in 1976--$700!! That's it!
>
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