I think there are 2 big factors that always seem to be missing from these investigations. The high costs offsets individuals who don't pay for their healthcare. Keep in mind that the hospital must treat anybody who walks in the door and they frequently do not get reimbursed by the government. Also keep in mind that the solution must be perfect when it physically cannot be. Because if there is a .0001 percent chance of failure, every doctor that treated the patient gets sued, the hospital gets sued for several million, the manufacturers gets sued, the middle man gets sued, heck the receptionists probably gets sued too. Think of the costs of insurance for every party involved. Obstetricians often pay $85,000 to as much as $200,000 for malpractice insurance. That's just the doctor.

Reduce the malpractice payouts and shield doctors like other countries do. Make the government absorb more of the costs for care. The price could probably be cut by 200 to 300 bucks.