Abstract

Pricing and cost accounting within the US medical system remain highly irrational and inaccurate, impeding efforts to curb domestic healthcare expenditures.¹ In light of recent initiatives such as the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), the Affordable Care Act, and private payer bundled payment programs, there is clear momentum away from fee-for-service reimbursement that renders current costing practices a problem that can no longer be ignored.²