The cost-lowering potential of direct-payment practices is heartening because the current third-party payment system has failed to stem our burgeoning health cost crisis.
According to the Center for Studying Health System Change, direct-payment practices increased from 9.2 percent of the market in 2001 to 12.4 percent by 2008.
The Credit Card Act of 2009, signed into law in May, is intended to protect consumers from sharp or retroactive interest rate increases, harsh penalties, short payment windows and other abusive practices.