From physically to financially crippled

I just got off the phone with a friend that lives in Kenai. He is recovering from a hiking accident that resulted in a fractured foot. He's trying to come to terms with a hospital bill for $54,000.00. He has traded being physically crippled for being financially crippled. Perusing the billing statement he found that the surgeon had used four screws to hold his foot together. Cost for each screw: $708.00. That's right -- $708.00 for each of four screws. These must be pretty special screws. And there's a debate as to whether or not America needs to correct basic flaws in the medical delivery system. My pal is getting screwed in more ways than one.