Calif. medical group among first to offer price list

"A physical exam ranges from $149 to $160 for a middle-aged patient." Last year, I had an employment-required annual physical in L.A.. Being 54, I'd requested a PSA, and wanted a cardiac panel to see what my cholesterol was. When the statement from the insurance company arrived, I was astounded that the total submitted was around $849! A whole battery of tests (many of which were not indicated, according to my research) were being billed, as well as a double-billing for venipuncture, which only occurred once. Eventually, insurance paid about a third; another third was written off, and I was presented with a balance due of $250. The physician had been referred to me by someone at the hospital where I worked, as he was on staff there. When I called to dispute the lab tests, I was never able to speak directly with the physician. Instead, his receptionist relayed information back and forth between the physician and me. Because I continued to protest the volume of lab work done, the receptionist told me that the doctor knew I was staff at the hospital, so he would discount my bill 50%. Thus, I ended up paying $125. As a final twist of irony, my employer declined to reimburse me the charges under California's preventative healthcare statutes, saying that neither the hospital nor my (travel company)employer had required the tests! BRAVO for these proactive people for letting the consumer decide!