The Cost Drivers
Six rules, subsidies and payment formulas. None of them are accidents, and each one has a sponsor.
I · Section 6001: the physician-owned hospital ban
The 2010 freeze on physician-owned hospitals.
II · Price transparency
Prices you can see but cannot use.
III · Certificate of need
Rankings, case law and reform status in every CON state.
35
jurisdictions require permission to compete
IV · Hospital subsidies
Tax exemption, the 340B program, DSH and provider taxes.
V · CMS favoritism
Same service, higher price, if a hospital owns the building.
VI · Stark and Anti-Kickback
The rules that keep physicians from building rivals.