$59,490 Ultrasound Bill Leads to Six Doctors Sued

[Bloomberg] The lawsuits could help determine what pricing limits insurers can impose on ”out-of-network” physicians who don’t have contracts with health plans that spell out how much a service or procedure can cost.

This article should send chills of outrage through anyone who believes that our health care system is the "best in the world". It should also cause every adult in this country to question whether our doctors are working to better the lives of their patients or fleece them in order to create a nest egg for early retirement. 

[Excerpt from article] The most detailed complaint is against Benyamin Hannallah, a cardiologist at Jersey City Medical Center. Hannallah charged $59,490 for a heart ultrasound in April 2010 and was paid $47,592, the suit says. Aetna reimburses in-network doctors $74 for the procedure at Jersey City hospitals, Michener said.

Hannallah billed Aetna $56,980 last July for a consultation with a patient who wasn’t critically ill, a hospital visit that typically takes 25 minutes, according to the suit. The insurer refused coverage, and said Hannallah had asked for $220 for this type of consultation in 2007.

The example above is just one of many noted in the article. And, don't think for a moment that this is a case of a few bad apples - this type of insurance scam is happening all over the country. 

Doctors rank among the sleaziest, opportunistic crooks in this country.