Originally Posted by
MadMojoMonkey
If all she needed was a bandaid, then she shouldn't have gone to a place with the overhead to treat trauma victims.
I'm in no position to say what the cost should be, but the statement that it should be based solely on the treatment and not at all on the access to facilities and professionals - that's wrong.
ER facilities are prepared to deal with anything (ideally) that comes their way. Whether or not you needed surgery, by going to the ER, you have made use of a surgeon on standby. There are literal tons of equipment in an ER that cost over $100k to own, not counting operating costs.
Again, I'm not at all aware of how pricing should happen, but being charged a facility fee for walking in the door is standard.