Scott haller i was often sent to the wrong p pce many times. Sharyl scott haller played the role of patient in our project. Hes a Research Assistant at the bostonbased Pioneer Institute research group. The institute helped conduct a survey for full measure of 54 hospitals in six states texas, new york, california, iowa, North Carolina and florida. Scott h. i would call the operator and ask for a cost estimate for an mri of my left knee without contrast, and basically see where they sent me because it could be one of many different places. Sharyl shopping around is more crucial than ever with so many consumers paying thousands in cash out of pocket under obamacare, accordingo the pionr institutes barbara anthony. Barbara the reason this is important is because we are now living in an age of highdeductible health plans. It used to be that your Insurance Coverage would take care of your healthcare expenses from the first dollar of your expenses. Sharyl getting a cost estimate for an mri radiology procedure that takes images of the inner body should be simpl but scott found it was like pulling teeth. H. Scott h. the operator would frequently send me straight to the mri department, who are on the frontlines of giving the mris and dont actually know anything about the billing. Youd often get the run around, people could be a little bit rude to you. All sorts of stuff really. Sharyl getting even partial information on the price of an mri took up to eleven persistent phone calls. Scott h. one time i was told to call an 800 number and got a coal company, who then immediately told me to dial 1866 instead and that got me to where i wanted to go and theyve obviously been through that before, but also there were many times where i would leave a message, sometimes multiple messages, on the same persons phone and they would jususnot gegeback to me after waiting over a week. And sometimes theyd call back and say, i dont even know why youre calling me. That we called, 25 of the hospitals that we called, 14 of them we were actually unable to get a final price. Sharyl the Pioneer Institute found hospitals around the country are illprepared to provide prices to a consumer asking for basic information. Joe fifer this is a big ship that were turning as an industry. Sharyl joe fifer is ceo of the healthcare Financial Management association, which represents many hospital finance hospitals that we called, 14 of them we were actuallunable to get a final price. Executives. Joe i dont defend the fact at its very dififcult for patients to navigate their way through this. That is something that we need to fix. We know we need to fix that as an industry. Sharyl he says what makes it so hard is the complex system set up by the government and insurers using thousands of arcane codes with different fees depending on whos paying the bill private insurance,he government, or y y. Joe almost all of these codes have dollars associated with them that are on these charge masters. They really become a part of a calculation to a different payment methodology. Sharyl so you kind of lost me. Joe im sure i did. One good analogy is if you ever lookokt the charge stickerer thats on the back of the door, its usually some charge thats significantly higher than what youre paying. They probably dont collect that charge thats on the back of the hotel door from anybody, it really means very little, thats kind of like what these hospital charges are like. Sharyl maybe thats why the prices we did get in our survey were wildly inconsistent and not tied to a citys size or cost of living. For example, one hospital in the Los Angeles Area charged 400 for the knee mri. But a hospital in smaller des moines, iowa quoted 3,500. Thats eight and a half times as much for the exact same procedure. Similar dramatic ranges are found within the same region. In orlando, one hospital charged as little as 877 total. Another charged close to 2,000 and didnt even include the fee to read the mri. Hospitals in los angeles charged from 400 to 2800. 2700. Des moines, also from about 1,000 to 3500. Dallasft. Worth, 500 to 4200. And the biggest disparity was in the new york city area. The cheapest knee mri was about 440. Another hospital in the area the most expensive in the survey charged 4,500. Barbara i think we called something lili 11 hospitals in the new york city region. There was a difference in price of 1,000 , f2om the lowest price in new y yk to the highest price in new york. The point is, there are differences and they are huge. And from the research we did, we couldnt figure out what would account for these huge differences in price. Sharyl in a similar study confined to massachusetts last year, the Pioneer Institute also found pricecenformation difficult to obtain even though massachusetts requires hospitals to give it under the strictest transparency law in and the ranges were equally baffling. A dermatologist removing a wart cost anywhere from 85 to 400. A routine eye exam at an ophthalmologist went for 80 t 327. An adult mri ranged from 700 at one hospital to more than 8,000 at another. Fifer says hospitals are not planning to come up with a single, standard price list that they would all use. But they are working to et consumer demand to give cost estimates up front. Joe internally, how i would describe it to you is that were scrambling to be able to develop this capability. But were probably not moving fast enough for consumers who are, all of a sudden, seemingly overnight, sitting their with a multithousanddollar deductible health plan. Barbara as a country, we are really lagging behind in terms of healthcare Price Transparency for consers. It is a very dauing task for the average consumer to find out obtaining that procedure. We really have a long way to go, i thinin all over the countrtr before we give consumers the tools that they need in order to spend their healthcare dollars wisely. Sharyl who proved to be the easiest to get quotes from . Dentists and dermatologists, possibly because theyve always had a lot of patients who selfpay since insurance often doesnt cover their procedures. Also, kudos to cedar sinai in los angeles, which provided info on the cost of an mri in just 4 minutes. You can see the entire report at pioneerinstitute. Org. Ahead on full measure the politically hot issue of immigration donald trump used it to launch his president ial campaign. Next, well talk with a young, rising political star in france concerns. Sharyl in france, there is a rising rock star of the political right. A 26year old with a pololical pedigree that some might call extreme. But for marion le pen, the issues of migrants and terrorism and more than a little controversy. Scott thuman has our story. Scott dont let the adoring fans, swarms of cameras, and photogenic smile fool you. Youre looking at one of frances or more accurately figures. And no topic has made marion marechalle pen more talked about than immigration. Radical islam has emerged. Terrorism is one of the more radical drifts. Its just the beginning. Are lead tl come to power, i hope. We are lead to completely change the migration policy implemented by the european elites. Scott the power she spoke of when sitting down to talk with us in paris is the rising right in france and a party called the National Front. She believes france should slow, if not, stop allowing a mass migration that she claims is posing a threat. Critics say thats hateful, that we should be more accepting of immigrants. When people say the way you speak is hateful, how do you respond to that . Marion its a Fertile Ground for radical islam. I would like to remind that france is the europes leading exporter of isis soldiers. That underlines a malaise. Dont bury your head in the sand. The areas with the higher with a strong insecurity. This immigration pololy has failed. Scott in some respects, le pen movement, winning her seat in parliament at age 22 and gaining steam ever since. No stranger to this spotlight, she was literally the poster child during her famous familys political runs. Her grandfather, j jnmarie, and aunt, marine, now president of the National Front, are also considered polarizing. The young le pen is striking a new chord for her harsh stance against a growing muslim population, abortion, and gay marriage. Far from france. Praise from others like sarah palin, who calls le pen a political crush, full of courage and common sense on a continent that needs both. Relatively small here in paris, is hard to ignore in other regions, where supporters say its not just her tough talk, but her undeniable charisma, that has their movement gaining momentum. Critics in the capital city call her rise concerning. We have spectacular results in favor is hard to ignore in other of the far right which is radically antiisla antimuslim, and antisocalled immigrants, which is her word for immigrants. Scott one political analyst says her success would have been on a manageable unimaginable a few years ago. The rising voice of the right is creating a new wave of discontent over borders and she is writing that wave riding that wave. The politicians are complicit or blinded by ththreality some associations are standing as the advocates of the jihad. They dont make integration efforts. A large part of muslims express sympatat toward radical islam. And this particular islam isnt compatible neither with democracy nor with the values of the republic, particularly in terms of womens rights, as its already been shown. Scott that notion, of a French Republic on the rise, drove the National Front to a win and then a loss in elections last december. But the new party status has created a huge springboard for a president ial bid by her aunt next year. And who knows after that. Would you like to be president one day . Marion of course, of course. But i have no career strategy. Scott you dont think about that . Marion i havent decided to be minister or president. Its nonomy goal. I go where the people need me. Scott instead she says shes just one of the little soldiers for her aunt in the 2017 election. And, while their party may benefit politically from the migration crisis, several poltical experts told us, they peaked. Sharyl having met her, do you think it is her message or also her charisma . Scott her name already carries a lot of weight. When you sit d dn with her, the real testament to her political power is that she has that socalled it factor. Despite having extreme stances by todays standards, she has the ability to draw in supporters, galvanize, and enthuse them. It is an intangible that, would pay for. It will be interesting to see how far that carries her. Sharyl yes, it will. Thanks so much, scott. Still ahead on full measure its been decades since the military draft has been part of the national debate, but its back for a new generation and this time for both men and sharyl the draft or conscription to compel service was once a right of passage for many Young American men. Even though it ended 43 years ago, under the law, young men are still required to register to be revived. Now, theres new debate over whether the socalled Selective Service should be less selective. Should women be required to register, too . The call of duty could be a consequence of equal rights on the battlefield. Sec. Carter we cannot afford to this means that as long as they qualify and meet the standards, women will be able to meet the nation and ways they have not been able to before. Sharyl in december, defense secretary Ashton Carter opened every single corner of the military to women, without exception. Secretary carter theyll be able to serve as army rangers and green berets, navy seals, marine corps infantry, air force parajumpers, and Everything Else that was previously open only to men. Sharyl carters speech opened a door to women and a new controversy. Sen. Mccaskill part of me believes that asking women to register as we ask men to register would maybe, possibly, sharyl senator Claire Mccaskill raised the issue at a Senate Armed ServicesCommittee Hearing earlier this month, diving into a decadesold dedete, newly framed i igender equality. Its my personal view that every american who is physically qualified should register for the draft. Army gen. Mark milley senator, i think that all eligible and qualified men and women should register for the draft. Sharylylthe question went straight to the republican contenders to be next commanderinchief. Martha raddatz many of you have young daughters. Senator rubio, should young women be required to sign up for Selective Service in case of a National Emergency . There are already women today serving in roles that are like i do believe that Selective Service should be opened up for both men and women, in case a draft is ever instituted. Women should sign up for Selective Service, be required to sign up . Jeb bush i do. Sharyl ted cruz went hard in the opposite direction. Sen. Cruz the idea that we would draft our daughters to forcibly bring them into the military and put them in close sharyl Hillary Clinton had reservations. The idea of having one everyone register concerns me. Sharyl that is different than 2007. I do think women should register. I do think it is fair to call upon every Young American. Sharyl Bernie Sanders did not register for the draft, but filed as a conscientious objector. In 1940,ermany was in control of most of europe, the battle of britain was underway, and the u. S. Was feeling pressure to enter r e war. Esident roosevelt lalached the first draft in peacetime. Serial number 158. Sharyl world war ii ended, but the draft remained almost unnoticed, until the vietnam war. Pres. Johnson i have today division and certain other forces, which raise our fighting strength to 75,000 men to 125,000 men almost immediately. Sharyl the draft created its own conflict on the homefront. Most of the men fighting in vietnam were volunteers. But of those drafted, many came from poor or middle there were accusations that many deferrals were granted to the sons of the rich and wellconnected. In 1969, the draft became a lottery. And it was mustsee tv. September 14. Sharyl by 1973, direct u u. Military action in vietnam ended and so did the draft. Today, the director of the Selective Service agency, lawrence romo, keeps those same capsules and glass jar in his office. Dir. Romo the majority of young men are patriotic, they understand that frdom is not free, they understand the importance of registration. Up. He says the agency is equipped to onramp women. It would need at least six months notice. Dir. Romo the thing is, weve learned with world war i, world war ii, whenever you have a big National Emergency you can never say never. Sharyl but wars are run bi generals and politicians. No one ever asks the young people who will fight. We thought we would, asking a group of High School Students young men and women if women should be required to register. I think its definitely going to be a shock for most women, no doubt, but i do think, in terms of establishing an equal and fair chance for everyone, its necessary. Under the current system, if there is a draft and young men are required to, then young women should also be required to. If a woman truly cares about her country and she wants to show how much a supporter she is, she will go, no question asked. We shouldldt be allowed to pick and choose where we should be equal. I am a strong believer in womans rights a. D womans equality, so if we want equal responsibilities as men do when it comes to serving our country. Sharyl but the larger question many people are asking ould anyone be required to register for a draft just in case . I honestly dont think the draft is a good thing because i think it infringes on our rights. But i think registraton is necessary as an insurance policy for our contry because we do country because we do still have to have that security. I dont think that military service should be coerced by the government. I have a plan for my life and military is not a part of it, but like ben, i do plan on serving my country in another way. Sharyl the National Opinion is split. A recent rasmussen poll reported 52 of women oppose registering for the draft, while 61 of men feel women should sign up. Ahead on full measure sharyl the favorite color of the federal government appears to be red. After six years of decline the , budget deficit will increase, 544 billion. Thats a much the government is that is according to the congressional budget office. Where, might you ask, could the government save money . Oklahoma congressman Steve Russell offers a few ripe targets from 2015. We follow the money in his waste watch report. Congressman Steve Russell latest waste watch report. The 20 pages are filled with examples of questionabab government spending. The Agriculture Department served up 250,000 tax dollars to a wisconsin cheese manufacturer to help expand the sales s meatinfused string cheese. The report says there was no good reason why one company of 89 wisconsin cheese manufacturers got the government money. Russell says it is up to private industry, not the government toto promote the product. And if you need help washing down that governmentsubsidized cheese spending, how about a little alcohol . The Agriculture Department put 250,000 tax dollars on tap for a distillery to use, process, and market its extrapotent moonshine. Solarpowered beer in michigan. And all together in 2015, the Agriculture Department provided more than 4. 6 million in taxpayerfunded grants to 41 different wineries, distilleries, and breweries, according to the report. And under the heading of art, which is open to interpretation, a state Department Program provided bags of air, blank cds, and livestock bones to people in mongolia to raise awareness about pollution. It cosos 300,000 tax dollarsrsnd russells review of the interactive art installation is a thumbs down on wasteful spending. Rep. Russell there is just not this urgency to focus needed dollars on where the needs are the greatest. Theres a lot of good ideas and nicetohaves and then theres some crazy stuff that gets funded that just should not. Sharyl congressman russell says the 75 billion he says was wasted could have replaced half model and put 18 brand new f35s on every deck. How about putting some back and the taxpayers pocket . Coming up nextxteek on full measure a federal Research Study on extremely premature babies raises questions about using humans for experiments, especially the defenseless. Even their own parents say they had no idea about the dangers. The incredible story next week on full measure. Thank you for watching. Im sharyl attkion. Until next time, well be searching for more stories that an in depth look at the people and events that shape our community. This is iowa in focus ges on while two different states weigh in on their picks. And president obama gears up for what might be his last and biggest fight with senate republicans. Welcome to iowa in focus where were giving context to and on the campaign trail. Trail. That starts with the rnstorm. Hillary clinton might have found her stride this week after what seemed like a tie in iowa and a clear loss in new hampshire. Hampshire. Nevada turned that streak around but only by a few Percentage Points giving her a few more delegates over Bernie Sanders. Now she and sanders are on to South Carolina which might show how well they connected with minority voters. But in nevada her message was to younger voters. Your generation is the most tolerant and connected has ever seen. In the days ahead, we will propose new ways for americans to get involved in