1.   And for the few patients with private insurance, their employers are demanding big discounts from the hospital, Turner says.

2.   At the root of their hesitancy is the specter of activists in this country demanding similar discounts here as well.

3.   At the same time, private insurance, through managed care, has demanded discounts.

4.   But Medicare would publish what it pays for drugs, and the private sector would undoubtedly demand similar discounts.

5.   Drug makers say such discounts are unnecessary because more Medicaid recipients are enrolling in health maintenance organizations, which demand deep discounts of their own.

6.   Financially pressed designers have demanded across-the-board discounts this season.

7.   Hospitals, in turn, began demanding discounts from Syncor and its competitors.

8.   Hospital integration is occurring throughout the United States as government reduces funding and large insurers and employers demand discounts for services.

9.   Many hospitals are struggling because of deep Medicaid cuts and the quick inroads made by health maintenance organizations, which demand discounts for care.

10.   Medicare, he said, has been less aggressive than private insurers in demanding discounts.