Service:
72040 Cervical Spine X-Ray (2-3 views)

Urgent care:
- Billed: $76
- Network discount: $13
- Patient responsibility: $63

Hospital:
- Billed: $1016
- Network discount: $850
- Patient responsibility: $166

This was part of a bill for 4 routine tests that the hospital submitted nearly $5000 in charges for total, but could all be done at the Urgent Care down the street for less than $300 cash. There are no facility charges listed. They just straight-up charged $1000 for something everyone else will happily do for less than $100.

On top of this, the specialist that referred me to the hospital for these tests (which they do for all patients because the hospital is conveniently in the same complex) says they had no idea the hospital was charging so much.

How is this a functioning health care system? How is this even legal?