Patients stunned by ‘facility fees’ for routine doctor visits

Healthcare Costs & Facility Fees - Facility fees are charged by outpatient doctor's offices affiliated with hospitals, even for brief procedures like injections [2][3] - One patient was charged over $14,000 in facility fees for an injection, with out-of-pocket costs nearing $700 [2] - A patient's share for the same injection was reduced from $700 to $37 (a 94.7% decrease) by switching to an independent doctor [2][6] Hospital & Physician Employment Trends - The percentage of US physicians employed by hospitals or health systems has increased from approximately 25% in 2012 to over 50% currently [3][4] Perspectives on Facility Fees - Critics argue that hospital affiliation leads to 60-70% higher prices for the same healthcare service [4][5] - The American Hospital Association asserts that facility fees are essential for maintaining 24/7 healthcare services in communities and sustaining physician practices [5][6]