poorcedure

If memory serves, it returns the number of deletes/inserts/edits. So what you mention can still be handled.

Years ago in a pinch, I used this library to isolate data in OCR results. Looking for phone numbers or tax IDs, it would return values with a B in it and you could correct to an 8 or other similar transforms. Probably much better tools for this now, but at the time it was extremely useful.

Might seem backwards, but the goal here would be to turn patients back into customers. Right now, there is no visibility for the individual into prices for services. Without it there is no competition at all to find common, realistic prices for services.

Lower prices should reduce premiums for everyone, since insurance companies have strict margins per the ACA. Lower premiums should increase those that are covered by insurance, hopefully.

As I understand the current system, medical institutions negotiate different prices with every insurance company. They start high and the size of the insurance company's patient pool helps them get better price per service.

It seems weird, because it is weird. I can not think of another industry that works like this, where prices can be unknown until it goes to billing. Forcing them to fix a price and publish it to a government registry could possibly allow market forces to drive lower prices than even the largest insurance companies can negotiate.

Agreed.

But replacing all of the private entities involved with health care overnight is not a likely next step. It should be a goal, eventually.