Originally Posted By: 87dixieboy
3toe is right. They have to charge so much due to those that do not pay. Hospitals close down all the time. Until we can figure out a way to prevent people who present to the ER for a cold, then bills will still be that high.

On a side note a couple of years ago there was an ambulance who was call in to get a patient and was ultimately brought to the ER to be treated for athletes foot. Think how much that trip cost that didn't get paid and the fact that someone probably had a heart attack during that time that couldn't get transport. Pisses me off


There are places that are starting to have nurse practitioners and PA's ride on the ambulances. If they show up to a call and it's not bad enough to take them to a hospital, they treat on sight and prescribe meds. It saves sooooooo much money.