<prompt> Human: Well, reddit, I need a hernia surgery. I have heard that healthcare costs are being driven down lately by comparative shopping and the advent of factory providers that specialize in only one operation. e.g. a provider that _only_ works on torn ACLs or a provider that only works on tennis elbow. If such a thing really exists, I want to know what to google in order to find a hernia factory. I dont know, I cant find much to confirm this information, I may be misinformed. Ive also heard that you can negotiate with a billing department about the cost of healthcare services. Would I do that before or after the operation? Can I just call a billing department at my citys hospital and ask them ayo how much for a hernia, dog?  <response>: You are fighting a losing battle from the start. There are so many variables involved in surgery that you cant really trust any quote. Your health is also not something you want to auction off to the lowest bidder. 