[DFHippie]

When our first child was born (a long, traumatic story in itself), after the ordeal was over and we were resting in the hospital, a nice fellow came by and asked whether we wanted to test our baby's hearing. Sure? No mention was made of a price. He put a device in the baby's ears. Hearing was fine. Then we got the bill. Hundreds of dollars, maybe $500, for a moment's effort and no expenditure of resources. We had almost no money at the time and certainly no insurance. This was in Nashville. He was an independent contractor they let wander the halls of the laying in ward accosting unsuspecting new parents. He bought the machine. Now he's got a steady income from this grift.

Another event in Nashville, my wife cut her hand making dinner. We walked to the emergency room. Eventually someone saw us. He asked whether we wanted to try some experimental tree sap glue to close the wound. Sure? It actually wasn't much of a cut and it had stopped bleeding. No mention of a price. While he was squeezing a droplet of liquid out of a tube the attending physician looked over his shoulder. Yep, checks out. It was basically a glance, less than a minute's interaction and no interaction with out. The whole experience, again, when we had essentially no means to pay, cost hundreds of dollars. They guy who glanced over glue man's shoulder tacked on a couple hundred for himself. Coming through the door and signing some papers then waiting hours to be attended to cost us maybe $400.

I've got similar stories from Washington, DC. My son (not the baby with the hearing test) had to deal with the medical system in Vermont. He's dead now but we're still paying the bills. And now we have insurance.

Regular healthcare in the US looks a hell of a lot like a scam. If you have insurance, the scam is less visible, but it's the same system.

[Aurornis]

> This was in Nashville. He was an independent contractor they let wander the halls of the laying in ward accosting unsuspecting new parents. He bought the machine. Now he's got a steady income from this grift.

Newborn hearing screening is standard, or even mandated, in most states. This wasn't just a grifter they allowed to roam the halls. They were contracted with the person to administer the tests. It's likely it was even required by your state lawmakers:

Here is the page from the TN department of health that says all newborns should be screened before leaving the hospital or before one month of age: https://www.tn.gov/health/information-for-individuals/i/fact...

If your state is like mine, there might be a law that requires this to be offered at the hospital, along with several other newborn screens.

Newborn hearing screening isn't a scam, and the hospital may not have even had a choice about offering it due to the laws.

[DFHippie]

Well, it wasn't presented to us like that. He asked, "Do you want it?" Implying we could say no. We looked at each other, shrugged, and said, "Okay." It was very sweet until we got the bill.

We had two kids more after the first one. No one offered to test their hearing or required that it be done. The second one is the one who died, but not from hearing-related complications.

[grugagag]

Yeah, seems grifty to me as well and some medical practitioners are solely in for the money so you’ve got to always watch out.

[Suppafly]

>and some medical practitioners are solely in for the money

So is everyone else that works any kind of job. 'Solely in it for the money' is such a weird complaint, as if you'd do your job for free if you were independently wealthy.

[DFHippie]

Actually, most people have multiple motivations for working in their field. Nursery school teachers like kids. They also like getting paid. Most doctors like the status their job confers and helping people in need. They also like getting paid. People who have jobs that suck -- septic tank pumper, say -- may well be in it solely for the money.

[cess11]

Kind of bizarre for the state to force you to do something and then demand that you pay for it too.