Having worked in healthcare for 30+ years, the writing was on the wall a while back and no one wanted to pay attention. I have tried for many years to have friends and relatives take issue with KCH buying up physician practices. It has all come home to roost now. The routine doctors office visit that used to include the nurse taking your blood or urine sample would be billed for around $100. Now, you have a $155 dr office charge, have to go to a KCH facility for blood work and pay that charge, have a lab charge for the urine, and the list goes on and on. The prime example would be a routine yearly pap, pelvic and mammo. in 2008 it cost me $51 after the insurance paid. in 2009, same insurance, the doctor is now part of KCH and my out of pocket expense was over $200. WAKE UP Knox County!!