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Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

Martha Bebinger

@mbebinger active 1 day, 8 hours ago
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  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Crazy, irrational hospital billing (with no connection to quality) 1 week, 4 days ago

    Hey Dennis – great to hear from you. I hope all is well.

    And I agree with your assessment – that’s why I say that these charges are just numbers with little relation to what hospitals are paid.

    The AG uses […]

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    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Value of yoga 1 week, 4 days ago

    Hmmm – did yoga, deep breathing and prayer produce equal benefits? I have to take a closer look at this study!

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Crazy, irrational hospital billing (with no connection to quality) 1 week, 5 days ago

    ThumbnailTry explaining this…

    One hospital in my state, Massachusetts, bills Medicare $75,197 to take care of a patient with heart failure, another charges $13,960.

    There’s a huge gap in the charge for patients […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger posted a new activity comment 2 weeks, 5 days ago

    In reply to: Jerry Lin posted an update @mbebinger Hello Martha — Not sure if you saw my comment from a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve registered as ”jerry” and have a post to submit. However, when I go to the ”Write a Post” […] View

    Jerry – done – so sorry I missed this the first time!

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger posted a new activity comment 1 month, 1 week ago

    In reply to: Jerry Lin posted an update @mbebinger Hello Martha — I’d like to post a response to the Boston Globe article ”Doctors firing back at patients’ online critiques” ( View

    Jerry – sorry for the delayed response – I was out for most of the week.

    Savvy is an open social network – kind of like Facebook. So once you register you are welcome to post anything to homepage. Send me a note after you’ve registered and I’ll make you an author. I have to take this step to filter out all the Coach bag (and such)…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Review of free iPhone medical apps 1 month, 2 weeks ago

    I love the idea of a “kicker counter”!

    On the first aid app – it would be cool if there were recorded instructions you could play while attending to the patient.

    Thanks Casey!

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Fascinating Story Of Patient Sued By Doctor For Bad Online Reviews 1 month, 2 weeks ago

    Mr Laurion – thanks so much for taking the time to post this account. I appreciate the clarifications and additional details about your experience. I’ve lost track, is the case down at this point?

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Should Medicare fund sex change surgery? 1 month, 2 weeks ago

    Dennis – I don’t have the back story on why the request for comments was withdrawn. The official statement talks about waiting for the resolution of the administrative challenge.

    I take it you don’t see any role […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Should Medicare fund sex change surgery? 1 month, 2 weeks ago

    C. Sommers – just wondering – are there other treatments that don’t make sense, in your opinion, for those 65 and older?

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Should Medicare fund sex change surgery? 1 month, 3 weeks ago

    ThumbnailI had a WOAH moment yesterday when I opened this email from a doctor who passes along developments in the exploding world of transgender health:

    Medicare announced that beginning March 28, 2013 and for a 30 day […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Robotic Surgery Warning! 1 month, 4 weeks ago

    ThumbnailRobot-assisted surgery is on the rise. If you’re thinking about it or your doctor is recommending it – Read This First.

    In Massachusetts, the Board of Registration in Medicine says it is seeing an increasing […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Here’s one reason you can’t find health care prices… 2 months ago

    ThumbnailMost states don’t have laws requiring hospitals and other providers to tell you how much anything costs.

    That’s the finding of a report that gives 29 states an “F” for transparency in health care pricing and […]

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    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, An anxious month for social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists 2 months ago

    Dobritte – is there any update on how the new codes are playing out?

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, Tiered Ratings for Physicians and Hospitals – What do they mean? 2 months ago

    Hi Joanie – thanks for the warning. Might you be able to write a short summary or a few tips to share with patients? I agree that the costs associated with doctors or hospitals in different tiers is taking […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Please Medicare, you can do better than this 2 months, 2 weeks ago

    I wrote to Medicare a while back, asking for a price. I know nothing is simple in the world of health care costs, but I just needed one number, a number Medicare uses, I assume, to calculate payments to doctors […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Gum, popsicles, Meow Mix, what’s “food” in your state? 2 months, 3 weeks ago

    ThumbnailMy state, Massachusetts is debating whether soda and candy are food and should continue to be exempt from the state sales tax.  That made me wonder…what do other states put in the category, “food”?

    The always […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, An anxious month for social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists 3 months, 3 weeks ago

    Faith – lots of interesting points. On no. 1 – I heard that the code for a standard visit was a range – not set at 45 mins. – is that different from what you are hearing?

    Do you see patients? If so, what are […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, I want information about costs AND quality 4 months, 2 weeks ago

    ThumbnailI’ve been thinking about this push from e-Patient Dave to redefine and rename “transparency.”

    “If I mention ‘transparency’ to people in my community,” says Dave, “most have no idea what I mean. But when I say ‘We […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger wrote a new post, Let’s Talk Mental Health 5 months ago

    ThumbnailI’ve written here about migraines that sent me shopping for an MRI, my search for a “good” colonoscopy, my kids’ dental bills and a bunch of other stuff.  But I realized this week, in all the conversations after […]

  • Profile picture of Martha Bebinger

    Martha Bebinger commented on the post, consumer perspective – cost of inguinal hernia repair surgery – First steps. 5 months ago

    Hi Michael – first, I’m sorry you need to have this done. I hope the procedure goes very smoothly. $5k is still a lot. Is this your deductible? Oh, maybe you have co-insurance?

    You’re right, there’s very […]

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