Hospital, outpatient costs cover wide range for privately insured

Prices for hospital care and outpatient services varied greatly across more than three dozen U.S. markets, even between markets in the same state, according to a report from the Health Care Cost Institute. 

HCCI also found that high-priced hospital markets did not necessarily have expensive outpatient care, according to the report.

HCCI, which has medical claims data for about 25 percent of all privately insured adults, examined the 100 most common inpatient and 500 most common outpatient services. Researchers then compared prices in each market against index prices. They found markets within states varied by 38 percent for inpatient care and by 25 percent for outpatient care.

Patients' out-of-pocket payments can range by hundreds of dollars for five common medical procedures across markets, the report found.

More states have begun requiring public reporting on healthcare prices, including California, Colorado, New Hampshire and Maine, where hospital and outpatient prices have drawn increased scrutiny. However, even in those states information is limited and difficult for employers and consumers to access.

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