Editor,

Health care has been a big issue in westernized countries for many decades. The question of whether we should have single payer or private health insurance is still a hot topic issue.

On April 9, an article titled, “Bill of the Month: A Tale Of 2 CT Scanners – One Rich, One Poorer,” was published on NPR’s website. The article talks about a financial adviser, Benjamin Hynden who had not been feeling well last October and decided to go see a physician.

The doctor recommended a private imaging center for a CT scan.

After the CT scan, Hynden received a bill for $268. This is cheap for a CT scan as anyone who has had one at a hospital will affirm. I myself am one of those individuals.

A few months later Hynden still was not feeling well. In January, he went to the hospital and received another CT scan. Except this bill for the CT scan was $8,897.

This was considerably more than the private imaging centers price by far for the same procedure.

This is a great example of how privatizing health care is the better route to more affordable health services.

I have talked to a few radiologist technicians and they have all said that the job is mainly producing a clear image. Then, they send the image off to a doctor or specialist for interpretation. This service does not need to be done in a hospital.

In layman’s terms, push a button, check for clarity and stick it in the mail.

Hospitals overcharge patients for all their services from CT scans all the way to a gauze pad which can cost at a hospital between $8 to $4 when you can go to your local Walgreen’s drug store and get a box which contains 25 for $4.19. That is 17 cents per gauze pad which is, if we take a low estimate of $4 for hospital prices, 23.8 times more.

This is a great example of how the free market can help drive down prices for consumers and allow patients to have more money in their pockets.

Joshua Gowdey

Coupeville