Jack and David,
I would love to somehow reconnect the prices that I charge for my services with what I think they are really worth. Unfortunately, these are completely decoupled in our current system. I recognize that non-participation with all insurers is the way to rectify that. Unfortunately, that is simply not an economic option for me at this time. It is also not feasible for most of my patients to pay for my services in any other way.
In the interim, I do not believe that it "lowers the reputation of our field" to recognize the reality of the situation and set a price which nearly matches the predetermined reimbursement. That is not what I do, but I have no illusions that I somehow change the insurer's perception by consistently setting my prices higher than what they pay.
