Re “Leaked Scripps Memorial Medical center data expose big, automatic markups for overall health care” (Dec. 10): David Lazarus is when once more dead on. Abnormal health treatment costs are enabled by impenetrable pricing with no transparency or industry pressure.

I was once billed $1,688 by a healthcare facility for a bag of saline remedy. On line resources offer them for $9. If, during a catastrophe, a retail outlet billed $1,688 for a bottle of water, without telling me the selling price very first, that would be unlawful profiteering. Why is it any distinct in hospitals?

The true solution, to this as well as the “surprise billing” challenges, is basic. Require estimates and approvals for any predictable expenses for scheduled procedures. A “medical excellent religion estimate.”

Why is it a motor vehicle repair service shop cannot invoice a dime without the need of an estimate, but a healthcare company can travel people today into bankruptcy?

Todd Maddison

Oceanside