Commercially insured patients pay substantially different rates for the same procedure, with negotiated costs for inpatient procedures varying by an average ratio of 9.1, according to an August report from market intelligence firm Trilliant Health.
The report reviewed health plan transparency data from Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, focusing on 11 inpatient and outpatient procedures.
A coronary bypass without cardiac catheterization, excluding major complications or comorbidities, had negotiated rates ranging from $27,683 to $247,902. Another finding: Outpatient procedures at ambulatory surgery centers would often cost less than those taking place in a hospital’s outpatient department. Colonoscopies, for example, would cost 67.5% less on average than the median hospital rate.
By reviewing a sample of 10 hospitals featured on a collection of “best hospitals” rankings, the researchers also found no correlation between cost and quality.
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