Unexpectedly high medical bills upset and frustrate many patients. Expensive medical bills hurt many patients, according to Ge Bai, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of accounting at Johns Hopkins University. While, on average, in-network ER doctor rates were 297% of Medicare rates, the out-of-network ER doctor rates averaged 798% of Medicare rates. "Medicare rates simply serve to compare the extent of markup across specialty and region." Facing a surprise medical bill, then, Gelburd suggests a patient first check "to see whether their states offer any protections with respect to surprise out-of-network bills or emergency bills."

Source: CNN January 17, 2017 18:18 UTC