Are Tiered Health Plans Being unfairly Blamed?

[Mluther]

The enclosed file is from the 28 Nov 2011 Globe article on Tiered Health Plans
Tiered health plans.pdf

I find it strange that Glenn McCarthy would have had the same doctor in either hospital the difference being a predicted $850 out pocket costs between BWH and Faulkners. But the BWH out pocket cost turned out to be in excess of $4,500.
It reminds me of someone who in 1987 had cataract surgery done at Nashoba Valley hospital in Ayer for a doctor charge of $1,700. If he had chosen to have the cataract surgery at Mass Eye and Ear, the doctor charge would have been $7,200. When he asked the doctor about the difference in cost for his services based on location, the doctor replied "Professional Courtesy. I encourage my Boston patients to travel the 30 minutes on 2 West to be able to be given the lower price." He still did not seem to comprehended it, so the doctor added, "If I do not charge the going rate at Mass Eye and Ear, I lose my hospital privileges."
I believe the Globe has reported on many occasions, the different hospital charges by a hospital to different insurers and the vast difference in cost for the same procedure between hospitals. Another excuse that teaching hospitals use is cost of training doctors. Please explain to me where the $30,000/year direct cost to medical students and federal subsidies for training doctors that approach $100,000/student/year is used. I do not work in the medical industry or for an insurance company but if I was looking for a culprit, I would look at the doctor who performed the surgery and at BWH. To add insult to injury, the old "there were complications and it will cost you more." excuse is used to extract additional money from Glenn McCarthy.
If AG Martha Coakley wants to strike a blow for the 99% underclass, she should use the powers of her office to investigate this issue.