And we all know how well that works. Hospital charges $1000 for something, insurance thinks it should only be worth $500 and just pays the $500. The patient is then responsible for the other $500. But, I do wonder if government doing the job won't result in the same thing.
The patient can't go to a different hospital because the insurance says they will only pay for 'in network' hospitals.
In network hospitals pay what they and the insurance company agreed it would cost. That's why there is in network. Out of network you may end up with out of pockets.