Consumer Choice in Out-Patient Services in Colorado
Issue Background: Independent and doctor-owned surgical centers feel they are coming under intense anti-competitive pressure by corporate-owned surgical centers. It is alleged that corporate surgical centers are using their economic power to force insurance carriers to only approve out-patient surgery at their wholly owned centers. It is believed that allowing patients to have procedures at a surgical center of their choice makes for more competition among centers and this competition helps maintain competitive health-care treatment costs. Studies indicate infection rates at these centers to be the lower than one-tenth of one percent. Proponents also cite costs nearly one-third those of the same procedures performed in a hospital.
Proponents argue that patients should be allowed to receive care in a facility of their and their physicians choosing and that insurance companies should not be directing care. The care in an ASC is as good, if not better, than the care received in a hospital and is at a significant cost savings.
Opponents argue that insurance companies should be allowed to narrow their networks as needed to maintain their costs and thus premiums. Insurance carriers insist their actions are solely business decisions.
NFIB Position: Competition and choice assist in lowering costs. It has been proven out-patient surgical centers can deliver a higher quality of care for less cost due to lower internal cost.
