most health care gets billed by the service code. So certain services get assigned a code and then an insurer sets a price for that code that they’re willing to pay. The price is different depending on the insurer, and depending on the practitioner.

So, there’s no reason why provoders couldn’t have prices available to everyone - standard, like basically every other industry - and make those prices known, with the caveat that there will sometimes be unforeseen issues that we have to deal with in the moment which could increase the bill. Even in that case, you could know what their code prices are and could select a different provider who has lower prices if you want.

Or, in a socialized system we could have rates set externally.

The way we have it now, the only price negotiation that occurs is between provider and insurer, neither of which is the patient.