Cost of Health Care
“Facing the threat of federal reforms, health plans . . . pledged Tuesday to make it easier for patients to choose doctors, go to the emergency room” and to see some specialists (July 19).
Aetna “said that internal tracking data indicated that the cost of providing health care to about 10 million of its health maintenance organization members rose 10% to 12% in the second quarter from a year ago. The . . . insurer said it is paying for more emergency room visits and outpatient surgeries; for longer maternity hospitalizations and for more visits by patients to specialists” (Business). Hmm. I wonder if there might be some connection here?
BOB SPENCER
Santa Monica
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