Other Helpful Listings

Ambulatory Surgery Average Charges in U.S. Hospitals, 2007  

Find average prices (mean charge) for about 80 outpatient ambulatory surgery procedures done in hospitals in 2007 (excluding surgeon's or other physician fees.) Average colonoscopy & biopsy price was $2369; upper GI endoscopy $3131; cataract & lens was $4870; tonsillectomy $5286; knee cartilage $7357; hernia repair $8187; outpatient gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) $10,838; breast biopsy $3863; lumpectomy $7458; ear tube surgery (myringotomy) $3547; D&C $6366; arthroscopy $8970; incontinence procedures $9929; vericose veins $8459; bunionectomy $7699; wrist fracture $7807; $4770 for circumcision. Consumers will need to adjust the 2007 prices to estimate 2010 facility costs; 2007 prices for many surgeries were up 25% to 41 percent over 2003 prices. Overall average was $6100, compared to nearly $40,000 for inpatient surgery. AHRQ Statistical Brief # 86 is based on 28 states (2/3 of US population) published February 2010

Average Medicare Payments for Hospital Outpatient Services

Average 2007 Medicare costs for outpatient procedures commonly performed in hospitals, listed by county and state, as well as US overall average Medicare payment. Check file of 61 Procedures that include scope of colon (colonoscopy), or shoulder, upper stomach-intestine scope, bladder exam, scope removal of tumors, stents; removal of damaged skin; rotator cuff repair; breast biopsy, prostate needle biopsy, other biopsy with scope procedures; cataract removal & lens insert, and post-cataract laser surgery; hemodialysis access; injection of lower back; breaking up kidney stones, wrist fracture surgery, hernia repair, nerve block injections and more. File of 20 procedures has x-ray, cardiac cath, scans, carpal tunnel, gall bladder, hernia repair. Preventive services file has vaccines and immunizations. Three files could contain any procedure. Shows volume and Medicare payment, but not original charges. Knowing the CPT code might help you find the right procedure. Not at all user-friendly, Excel format, but covers every state. Oct. 2008

California - 2008 HMO and Medical Group Ratings Report Card  

Compare California HMO health insurance plans: Aetna Health, Anthem Blue Cross HMO, Blue Shield, CIGNA, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern regions), PacifiCare and Western Health Advantage. Clear, simple star system used for overall rating. In addition, get more details about member satisfaction, complaint rates, asthma, cancer screening, child/adolescent health, diabetes, heart care, maternity care, mental health, back pain, immunization, and smoking cessation. Medical group ratings also provided by county for the larger groups of doctors. Prepared by the California state Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA), using 2007 data

Cancer Information - How Consumers Want to Get Info (August 2007 pdf)

Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data from 2005, published by the National Cancer Institute shows that most people (55%) preferred to get their cancer information from a health care provider rather than from the Internet (30%) or from printed material (3%). Yet regardless of preference, about twice as many people actually used the Internet to search for cancer information, rather than being able to get the info from their health care providers. 84 pages While the 2007 survey is done, the report has not yet been updated; individual findings may be available at hints.cancer.gov

Colorado Health Insurance Plan Clinical Performance

Is your health insurance plan getting better over time? This report shows rates by CO health plans over multiple years (2003 to 2007) for Heart, Diabetes, some Cancer screening, recommended Preventive care for women and children's health, Mental Health indicators including depression. Report also compares rates between men and women for cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Plans: Aetna, CIGNA, Denver Health, HMO-Colorado, Kaiser Permanente, PacifiCare, Rocky Mountain, and United Healthcare. Updated for 2008

Find an Oncologist American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Interactive database to help you find a board-certified physician with specialties in the specific type of cancer expertise you're interested in, or types of oncology, tumors, etc. From the American Society of Clinical Oncology (cancer.net) ASCO website

Florida Inpatient Hospital Ratings, Average Charges, Survival Rates, Readmissions  

Search feature, mortality (survival rates), complication rates, volume, and average charges (price range), 2007-2008 data. (We couldn't find the readmission rates.) All age groups (not just Medicare), extensive set of health conditions/diseases, and the ability to rank order by top hospitals at the head of the list. Click on the hospital name to see actual risk-adjusted mortality rates for heart attack, stroke, heart failure (CHF), GI hemorrhage, hip fracture, hip replacement, pneumonia, AAA repair, heart bypass, craniotomy, surgery to remove the pancreas, or esophageal resection. Compare hospitals on infections, iatrogenic pneumothorax, and post-op sepsis. Hysterectomy listed under Women's Health instead of Surgery. FloridaHealthFinder.gov

Florida Outpatient Surgery Prices & Visit Volume (2007 data)

Compare hospitals and ambulatory surgery volumes and range of charges (average cost is not shown) for common adult and pediatirc outpatient surgery procedures, by hospital or surgical center name. Includes arthroscopy, cataracts, laser eye procedures, cardiac catheterization, pacemaker, upper GI & lower GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, hernia repair, hysteroscopy, tonsil removal, lithotripsy, skin biopsy, bunion removal, pediatric circumcision and more. You might be surprised to find outpatient hernia repair prices ranged from $5880 to over $13,000 (ages 18 to 64, Level 1); Level 2 went to $16,507. FloridaHealthFinder.gov 2007 data

Food and Drug Administration Home Page

The FDA regulates drugs, dietary supplements, medical devices, vaccines, and more. Example of news: FDA licenses new vaccine (Gardasil) for preventing cervical cancer, approved for use in females ages 9-26; approximately 3700 US deaths per year attributed to cervical cancer. O sther example: FDA approves Zyrtec for Nonprescription Use in Adults and Children; approval of rapid test for flu

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2009  

Recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for over 90 Screening tests, Preventive Medication, Immunizations, and Counseling activities. Sample Topics: Screening Mammography at age 50 instead of age 40 (updated), Cancer (e.g. which is more cost effective - colonoscopy or fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer?), recommended screening for bladder cancer or skin cancer, Heart Disease (including aspirin for prevention), smoking cessation, screening for depression in children, diabetes screening, folic acid supplements, glaucoma screening, COPD and spirometry

Health Topic Summaries: Cancer, Bypass, Hip, Knee, Pediatrics, COPD, more

A series of short summaries on common disease topics and health issues, made available by MHA, an association of Montana Health Care Providers from the COMPdata Monthly Monitors. Topics as of Nov 2007 included Cancer (general, prostate, breast, lung), heart bypass, and PCI, Pediatric care, Alzheimer's, Behavioral (mental) health, End of Life Care, Kidney Disease, Obesity, Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery, COPD, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Influenza, Traumatic Brain Injury, Asthma, Stroke and Diabetes. Summaries provide health information, and statistics about health care system utilization for that disease. Most use 2004 data, some have 2005 data. Consumers need not be from Montana to learn a lot about these health topics

Hospital Comparison Tool - Hospital Ratings & Cost Rankings (all states)  

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Mexico makes this Hospital Comparison Tool from HealthShare (WebMD) available to compare hospital care ANYWHERE in the country, mostly using Medicare data. No registration required. Gives results according to the importance you give to survival, complication rates, costs, volume and length of stay. Provides rankings, and crosses state lines when doing the search. Considerable detail on different types of complications if you keep delving deeper. Disease categories include Cancer, GI (e.g., appendectomy, colon or bowel surgery, gall bladder, hernia repair, gastric bypass), gynecology (e.g. hysterectomy), stroke (under head & neck), heart (e.g. attack, failure, angioplasty, cardiac bypass, catheterization, defibrillator, pacemaker, valve), lungs (e.g. pneumonia, COPD), medical, mother & baby (maternity, delivery for selected states only), orthopedic (e.g. hip or knee replacement), pediatric, prostatectomy, plastic/cosmetic surgery and heart, kidney, lung or liver transplants. Caution: it always assumes higher volume is preferred, which may not be valid. Patient satisfaction scores from the federal HospitalCompare tool shown, without disclosing dates.

Hospital Ratings at HealthGrades (all states) 2010  

Hospital Ratings (5-star, 3-star, 1-star) for about 30 diseases & inpatient procedures: Stroke, back surgery, COPD, diabetes, gall bladder surgery (cholecystectomy), bowel obstruction, GI Bleed, hip fracture repair, total hip replacement, knee replacement, prostatectomy, respiratory failure, pneumonia, cardiac bypass, heart attack, heart failure, angioplasty/ stent, valve replacement, sepsis, pancreatitis, peripheral vascular bypass & more. Free information on survival rates or complication rates if you click on the GOLD CROSS at the left. Medicare-only data for most conditions, although some states provide maternity, appendectomy, and bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) data. More extensive list than the federal government's site. Free hospital ratings are easy to use and cover all states. BEWARE, the site will try to sell you other services ($17.95+) that you may not need if use the free listings at consumerhealthratings.com. Publicly-traded company. Most 2010 ratings use data from 2006 to 2008; some data may be older. To see all hospitals in a state, do NOT select city. AOL users should use another browser. Updated October 2009

Iowa Hospital PricePoint System - Inpatient Charges

Iowa Hospital PricePoint provides information about volumes and average 2008 charges (amount billed) at IA hospitals. Select one hospital to begin. Site allows 4 hospitals to be compared at one time (although we couldn't make this work) for charges, length of stay, number of cases and more. Provided by the Iowa Hospital Association, this is a starting point for comparing average cost of care between Iowa hospitals. Compare typical prices for surgery such as gall bladder removal, bowel surgery, knee joint replacement; childbirth and newborns, pneumonia, stroke, heart care, transplants, COPD, psych, rehab, and most medical conditions. Severity of illness can be specified. Consumers will need to inflate old prices to estimate current charges

Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care - Certified Hospitals

List of Primary Stroke Centers, Stroke Rehab, and other disease-specific care certified organizations in the US. Most are hospitals. Other certified programs include orthopedic joint replacement (hip, knee), COPD (most listed under A for Advanced COPD), sickle cell services, burn center, bariatric surgery, high-risk OB; bone marrow, heart, liver transplants; cancer (including breast, lung, pancreatic, prostate); diabetes; AAA, Alzheimer's, sleep program, wound care, spine treatment program, migraines, Parkinsons disease, ESRD, palliative care, epilepsy, congestive heart failure, heart failure, AMI, pneumonia and more. July 2010 list is 75 pages, and hard to use because health condition certifications are listed under multiple titles such as "Advanced"

Leapfrog - Minimum Volume Recommendations (Evidence-based Hospital Referral pdf)  

The Leapfrog Group has Evidence-Based Hospital Referral Safety Standards that include recommended volumes for certain procedures. They include minimum annual hospital volumes as follows: 450 heart bypass procedures per year (CABG), 400 Percutaneous coronary intervention procedures (PCI angioplasty), 120 aortic valve replacement, 50 abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAA), 11 pancreatic resections, 13 esophagectomy per hospital, and an average daily census of at least 15 babies in neonatal intensive care (NICU). Bariatric (weight loss) surgery has a recommended hospital volume above 125 and more than 50 cases per surgeon annually. Read about the specifics in this two-page fact sheet, then go to the Hospital Quality Ratings category, and check the Leapfrog data for information on your local hospitals. Updated 2008

Louisiana Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2010

Compare health plan quality and customer satisfaction for insurance plans Aetna, Connecticut General, Coventry, Group Health, HMO Louisiana Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, BC BS of LA, United Healthcare PPO, HMO POS. Quality scores for diabetes, maternity, postpartum, well child, cancer screening, blood pressure, asthma, chlamydia, medical care use HEDIS 2009 scores (2008 data). Try not to be surprised at how low some of the scores are. Not all plans report. New website by state government still has some bugs in it Feb 2010

Louisiana Hospital Ratings and Prices - LA Hospital Inform

Search by Parish. Must click on View Reports on the left side of page to see LA hospital-specific selected inpatient charges (e.g. child birth, C-section, hip or knee surgery, gall bladder removal, appendectomy, heart problems, stent, cardiac cath, stomach problems, stroke, kidney failure, COPD, pneumonia, more); outpatient Medicare prices include ER visits, heart tests such as cardiac cath, EKG, stress test, echo; CT scan, MRI, x-ray and ultrasound, GI endoscopy, mammography, more; Quality scores similar to those submitted to HospitalCompare. Louisiana Hospital Inform is sponsored by the Louisiana Hospital Association; Prices from 2006 (outpatient) and 2008 (inpatient)

Maine - Outpatient Diagnostic Test Prices, 2007

Average prices from 2007 listed for a common Radiation Oncology treatments ($432), Mammograms ($141 for CPT 77057), CAT scan of abdomen ($1238), Pelvic ultrasound ($412), Thorax CT $1225; Chest x-ray ($183), Bone density study ($260), more. Consumers should anticipate higher prices in 2009. HealthWeb of Maine

Maine - Outpatient Surgery & Procedures Prices, 2007

The most common type of colonoscopy in Maine (2007 prices for CPT code 45378) cost $1176. Unclear what the total charges would be, with both facility and physician fees. Cataract prices averaged $2264; most common Upper GI endoscopy was $1134 (CPT 43235). Knee arthroscopy average cost was $2409; Laparoscopic gall bladder removal was $3531 in 2007; Hernia repair was $3102; Hysteroscopy cost $2452; Carpal tunnel release was $1952; Ear tubes were $1185. Additional procedure prices (average cost) listed by CPT code are at this site by HealthWeb of Maine. Consumers must inquire as to what both facility charges and doctors' professional fees would be for 2009 and 2010

Massachusetts Surgeon Volumes by Procedure (mass.gov)

Massachusetts Health and Human Services office shows how many times a physician has done a specific surgical procedure for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, open or laparoscopic gastric bypass, lap banding, carotid endarterectomy, isolated CABG, PCI angioplasty, total hip or knee replacement or revision (e.g. number of operations done by each MA orthopedic surgeon), esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, prostatectomy (e.g. doctors who did at least 40 radical prostatectomy operations in a year.) Volume numbers are rather old, FY 2005 (as of mid-2009). Shows hospital affiliation

Medicare (Inpatient) Prices for 31 Common Hospitalizations - June 2007

Find out the average charge (price) and the average Medicare payment (the closest consumers will get to cost) and volume information by county or state for 31 inpatient DRGs such as heart valve, major large or small bowel or stomach operations, inpatient hernia operations, gall bladder removal (open or laparoscopy), hip or knee replacement, bone biopsy, inpatient shoulder joint surgery, kidney and bladder operations for cancer, other kidney or bladder operations, prostatectomy, hysterectomy, back spinal fusion, cervical spinal fusion, insert heart defibrillator. Fiscal year 2006 data. The large gaps between charges and payments may shock you, and lead to a number of questions about cost-shifting, true costs, and realistic charges. Must be able to use Excel spreadsheets. This is part of the government's work to become consumer-friendly for healthcare. It covers all 50 states, but not all counties, and may be the only place you can find this information. Average consumers may have difficulty with navigating the very large, cumbersome files. We had hoped by now, the reporting would show improvements in consumer-friendliness. No such luck; prices for 2008 and 2009 not available as of May 2009.

Medicare Ambulatory Surgery Charges - 13 Other Commonly Performed Procedures (2008)

See this second file for 13 more procedure prices and discounts to Medicare. This file covers charges and payments for selected outpatient surgery such as breast biopsy (example: $2446 national average breast biopsy charge, with Medicare allowing $373, and paying $295 - over 80% discount; last year they paid $314), surgical change of stomach tube, prostate needle biopsy (CPT code 55700 $1319 average charge, $341 allowable; $267 average cost paid), nerve blocks, cataract removal & lens insertion ($2827 charge, $966 allowed), cancer screen colon scope for high risk patients, and more. Confusing file unless you know CPT codes. This is the best of what's out there nationally, with state and county average charges. 2007 data published Aug. 22, 2008

Michigan 2006 Consumer Report - Selected Inpatient Conditions

The Michigan Health & Safety Coalition Consumer Report shows volume comparisons among MI hospitals for open heart surgery, percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAA), carotid endarterectomy surgery, esophagectomy for cancer surgery, low birthweight infants, infants with congenital anomalies, and ICU physician staffing. Hospitals are sorted by region. Probably 2006 data

Minnesota - wcco.com - Comparing Hospital Costs

WCCO I-Team investigation of 7 hospitals' prices for a private room, cesarean and vaginal deliveries, appendectomy, colonoscopy, hernia repair and procrit. March 2005, Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Rochester, MN. Charges are likely from 2003 or 2004, so consumers should inquire further

Minnesota, ND, SD, WI - Physician Clinic Ratings - HealthScores  

Compare side-by-side (3 at a time) over 300 participating medical groups, hundreds of clinic locations and urgent care centers in Minnesota, Fargo, Grand Forks, Sioux Falls, and some WI communities for diabetes, vascular care, and mental health (depression). Some clinics also have patient satisfaction scores. Medical groups include Allina, Altru, Apple Valley, Aspen, Avera, Brainerd, Children's Physician Network, Dakota Clinic, Edina, Fairview, Fergus, Grand Itasca, Gundersen, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Lakewood, Mankato, Mayo Clinic, MeritCare, Innovis, North Memorial, Northstar, Olmsted, Osceola, Park Nicollet, Regina, Ridgeview, Sanford, St. Cloud CentraCare, St. Luke's, St. Mary's Duluth Clinic, Stillwater, United, University of Minnesota, Winona Clinic, and more; OB-GYN clinics, Urgent care such as Express, MinuteClinic, Priority Pediatrics. Separate Disparities report shows additional clinic ratings for Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care patients for cancer screening, controlling high blood pressure, heart (coronary artery) disease, asthma, immunization, appropriate care for children with colds and sore throats and more. Report by MN Community Measurement (founded by the MN Medical Association and seven non-profit health insurance plans). Unclear why dates of performance scores are not disclosed. Interactive easy-to-use format

Minnesota: How Much Does It Cost? (word doc)  

Short document from the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, 2005, displays average charges (from 2003) for nearly 50 common medical treatments (including endoscopy, ear tubes, hysterectomy, tonsillectomy, having a baby, and some prescription drugs), using Minnesota data. An interesting comparison is the cost for the same problem (e.g. sore throat or ear ache), depending on whether the patient seeks office care, urgent care or ER care. This report adds together charges from both the hospital and the physician - not commonly seen in reports of charges. In a time when price data are so difficult to get, this report earns an Editor's Pick as a starting point. After all, did you know that stepping on a rusty nail could cost over $1000, or that a colonoscopy could be a $2000 question?

Missouri Typical Inpatient Charges and Hospital-Specific Volumes (pdf)

Median charges for 60 most common inpatient medical conditions and surgeries at 109 Missouri hospitals. Information grouped by St. Louis, Kansas City, MO, mid-sized city hospitals and rural markets. Only general prices are shown by region, but you can see how much is charged, vs. how much is usually collected. Example: About $18,000 charged for Stroke, but $6600 is usually collected. Similar information for hip and knee replacement (median price $35,543 in Kansas City; $12,177 usually collected). This may be the closest you will find to average cost. Numbers of cases treated at each hospital, average length of stay, and the lower amounts that Medicare and Medicaid usually pay also shown. Includes COPD, Pneumonia, Heart care including stents, valves & cardiac cath, Bowel surgery, GI hemorrhage, Back problems, Renal failure, Kidney and UTI, Hysterectomy, Childbirth, Rehab, Stomach problems, Hernia (inpatient), Gall bladder (open and laparoscopic), prostatectomy, spinal fusion, some cancer care and more. Data from 2004-2005 is most recent available

Nebraska Hospital PricePoint System (Inpatient Charges)

Find average price and typical charges for many types of inpatient hospital stays in NE. Examples: maternity prices, angioplasty, heart surgery, some cancer services, hip & knee surgery, bowel surgery, pneumonia, stroke, UTI, gall bladder surgery (inpatient only). Includes volume, average length of stay in the hospital, and median age of patient. Does not include physician costs. Shows one hospital/ one disease or condition at a time; 2007-2008 data. All cities including Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Creighton, Norfolk, Kearney. NHA Care Compare is sponsored by the Nebraska Hospital Association

New Hampshire Costs - Outpatient Surgery, Tests and Maternity

Shows typical prices for many outpatient procedures, plus inpatient maternity care. NH Health Cost shows expected average cost for over 30 common tests and ambulatory surgeries including colonoscopy, mammogram, ER visit; chest x-ray or x-ray for spine, shoulder, knee, ankle, or foot; bone density scan, CT scan (3 types), MRI for back, brain, knee, or pelvis; myocardial imaging; arthrocentesis, arthroscopy of knee, breast biopsy, destruction of lesion, outpatient gall bladder surgery, hernia repair, kidney stone removal, tonsillectomy, breast ultrasound, and other maternity ultrasound tests, births. Site uses 2007-2008 costs increased by 5% for price inflation, common language instead of requiring codes, and includes physician fees. Must supply zip code and insurance information (or no insurance). Report by The NH Department of Insurance updated 2009

New Hampshire PricePoint System (Inpatient Charges)

Find average price and typical charges for 64 types of inpatient hospitalizations in NH. Examples: maternity prices, heart surgery, pacemaker, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, psychiatric hospitalization. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time; 2007 data shown. By the New Hampshire Hospital Association

New Mexico HMO and Health Insurance Plan Ratings (2008)

Compare 4 health insurance plans on how members rated their care and service, and how health plans scored on care such as cancer screenings, immunizations, diabetes, high blood pressure and mental illness care. Blue Cross Blue Shield New Mexico (BCBSNM HMO), Lovelace, Presbyterian (the largest and highest overall ratings), and United Healthcare. Click on Consumer Guide to Managed Care 2008 prepared by the state of NM Health Policy Commission. Three plans have Commendable accreditation status; United Healthcare is NOT accredited by NCQA

New York - Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP) - Approved Labs for all types of testing

Laboratories approved for certain specialty testing in New York are listed here by category of testing. Examples include Andrology (fertility assessment e.g. sperm count), Blood transfusion testing, Cellular Immunology, Endocrinology (e.g. thyroid function tests, TSH), HIV screening tests or those for viral identification, DNA testing, Toxicology labs, Trace Element labs, Transplant monitoring, or urine pregnancy testing; many more

New York and New Jersey 2008 HMO and Hospital Report Card (nyshaf.org)  

Compare cost and quality ratings for HMOs such as Aetna, AmeriHealth, Blue Choice, CDPHP, CIGNA, Community, Empire, GHI, Health Net, HIP, Independent, MVP, Oxford, Preferred Care, United & Univera side-by-side in NY and NJ, for diabetes, asthma, postpartum care, some cancer care, mental health, antibiotic use for children, low back pain care, Board-certified physicians, monthly health insurance premiums, overall patient satisfaction experience & more. Hospital quality comparisons on heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infections also provided for NY hospitals. Inpatient volumes, average length of stay and average price (charges) provided for appendectomy, asthma, maternity (incl. newborn & c-section delivery), chest pain, depressive neuroses, diabetes, gall bladder surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, hysterectomy, stroke, cardiac procedures, pneumonia, and COPD. Some survival ratings. Impressive list of measures, too numerous to mention. Health Care Report Card prepared by the NYS Health Accountability Foundation - a partnership of the NY Business Group on Health and IPRO (the QIO). Dates of data vary; HMO premiums are supposed to be current to the month

Ohio Hospital Charges and Utilization, 2007 (ohio.gov)

Ohio.gov Web site shows DRG (diagnosis related groups) inpatient charges (the closest available for average cost) and volumes by hospital. Public Warehouse data. Must know DRGs in order to find the procedure prices you want. Common hospitalizations: childbirth/ maternity & newborn delivery, heart problems, gall bladder, hysterectomy, pneumonia, stroke, rehab, joint surgery. Top 60 types of hospital stays

Ohio Hospitals - Top 60 Inpatient Hospital Prices (OHA)

As required by the Ohio Department of Health, the average and typical prices for the top 60 most common hospitalizations are listed by Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) for all payer cases. Reports published by the Ohio Hospital Association show volume, average charge and length of stay. No side-by-side comparisons. Surgery procedures and hospitalizations (such as joint replacement, delivery, hysterectomy [DRG 358], psychiatric admission, COPD, etc.) are listed in the order of volume for each hospital, requiring consumers to search for the condition they want, and check each individual hospital's report. 2008 data

Oregon - 2008 PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

To get an idea of the average cost of hospital care, the Basic Query option allows users to check charges and volumes for 64 types of hospitalizations, representing about half of all hospital stays in Oregon. Includes maternity & newborn prices, heart care, stents, cardiac cath, heart transplant, hip and knee replacement charges, bone cancer, psychiatric hospitalization, alcohol & drug abuse, stomach or bowel problems, and rehabilitation charges. Hospital charity care and bad debt expenses also shown. Site by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) shows one hospital, one condition at a time, using 2008 data. Consumers can try to get 2009 prices by calling the hospital

Oregon - compare hospital costs for under age 65 (2007)

State of OR (OHPR) posts average hospital charges paid by Oregon's 9 largest health plans (excludes Medicare, Medicaid) in 2007. Site is easy to navigate (click on Start Search), to compare costs for leukemia, chemotherapy, lymphoma, normal newborns and childbirth, prostate cancer (see Male reproductive), hysterectomy (Female reproductive), mental health, UTI, knee replacement and many more. Other than the prices being two years old, the information might be helpful if you think you can negotiate or select a better value hospital. Better inquire to see how much prices have gone up since 2007. Pub. 2009

Pennsylvania Hospital Performance Report 2008 | PHC4 (Sept. 2009)  

Compare PA hospitals on Mortality Rating (relative survival rate), Average Charge (price), Length of Stay, and Readmissions. Thirty one (31) conditions in the pdf prepared reports include heart failure, abnormal heartbeat, heart attack, angioplasty and stent, pneumonia, stomach and intestinal bleeding, stroke, (laparoscopic & open) gallbladder removal, hip fracture, COPD, blood clots, colorectal procedures, diabetes, kidney failure, urinary tract infections, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, hysterectomy, septicemia, (radical and transurethral) prostatectomy, respiratory failure with & without mechanical ventilation, intestinal obstruction & carotid endarterectomy. Grouped by region. Use the Create your Own Report feature to access 20 additional conditions such as Brain surgery, medical back care, bronchitis & asthma, cirrhosis, liver disease, pancreatic cancer, stomach disorders, vascular procedures and more. Symbols for Mortality ratings can be confusing - a higher mortality rating means worse survival (we think). Contains helpful glossary for diagnoses & surgical procedures. Probably the most comprehensive report for hospital care in the country. Data from Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008

Prevention Priorities: Save another 100,000 lives (Aug. 2007)

By increasing the utilization of five key preventive services to 90% of the relevant population, more than 100,000 lives are estimated to be saved each year. See what this report says about taking aspirin every day to prevent heart disease, advising smokers to quit (save 42,000 lives), improving colorectal and other cancer screening rates, and getting your flu shot (save 12,000). PID cases would also go down if chlamydia infection screening went up. Title - Preventive Care: A National Profile on Use, Disparities, and Health Benefits, published by Partnership for Prevention and the National Commission on Prevention Priorities

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care - Chartbook 2008 (pdf)  

Excellent, comprehensive chartbook by The Commonwealth Fund showing differences by race and ethnicity in health status, life expectancy (mortality), health insurance coverage, access, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, mental distress, screening tests and much more. Discusses value of Medical Homes. Top notch charts, with most recent available data. Pub. March 2008

Texas - Guide to Texas HMO Quality 2008 (OPIC)  

Lengthy (212 pages) but valuable report showing detailed clinical quality comparisons between HMO health insurance plans for indicators such as asthma, childhood immunizations, cancer screening, heart care, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes care, prenatal care, mental health care, flu shots, ER visit rates, rates of physician board certification, and more. Pub. by TX Office of Public Insurance Council Oct. 2008

Texas PricePoint - Compare Hospital Inpatient Charges (Prices)

If you are looking for average cost of hospital care or surgery, the 2007 prices at this site by the Texas Hospital Association might be the closest you can find. Information for one hospital at a time (no side-by-side comparisons) for maternity, childbirth, newborn, c-section; hip or knee replacement, fracture repair; pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, asthma; heart failure, chest pain, cardiac cath, bypass, stent, heart transplant; mental health, psychiatric hospitalization, depression; alcohol rehab; bowel surgery; back problems including spinal fusion and more. Volumes at each hospital are shown.

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Cancer Rankings

US News & World Report named MD Anderson and Sloan-Kettering as its 2009 leaders of the top 50 hospitals for cancer care in the US. Scoring includes 30-day mortality, professional reputation, volume, designation from the National Cancer Institute and other factors. Hospital mortality index shown

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Pediatric & Children's Hospitals

Top 30 hospitals for general pediatrics, as determined by US News & World Report, based on reputation score, volume, nurse staffing, and other factors. Special lists for best children's hospitals in heart & heart surgery, and neurology & neurosurgery use mortality (death) rates. Top 30 pediatric hospitals listed for cancer, digestive disorders, neonatal care, and respiratory disorders. List called America's Best Children's Hospitals, was updated June 2009

Utah HMO Health Insurance Plan 2008 Ratings

Compares Utah HMOs covering about 40% of Utah residents - health insurance plans Altius, HealthWise, SelectHealth, United Healthcare, and Medicaid plans (Healthy U, Molina, IHC Preferred, Select Access PEHP CHIP) on back pain, cancer screening, and high blood pressure (categorized under Health Care for Adults); diabetes, antidepressant medication, prenatal & maternity, preventive care, well-child visits & immunizations, overall member satisfaction rates, and more. Shows actual performance rates, and a star-rating. Members rated slightly higher satisfaction with Altius than with other plans, but the HEDIS quality scores are not necessarily higher. Which is more important to you: Satisfaction or Quality? Click on Download Print Version for complete pdf (on left), or see individual topics under Quality of Care and Consumer Satisfaction. Key Findings do not show HMO names. 2008 Performance Report published by utah.gov Nov. 2008

Utah Inpatient Hospital Charges, 2008 - Utah PricePoint

Utah provides average charges (price) statewide, and on a hospital-specific basis for many common inpatient stays, such as pneumonia, stroke, appendectomy, hip and knee procedures, gall bladder surgery, hysterectomy, heart failure, heart attack, chest pain, coronary bypass, heart valve procedures, vaginal and cesarean deliveries, newborn births, chemotherapy, psychoses, alcohol or drug abuse, rehabilitation, back and neck procedures, digestive disorders, abdominal surgery, nutritional/metabolic problems, transplants and much more. Volumes (2008 data) and length of stay are included; does not include average cost for physicians. Consumers may adjust for 2010 costs by adding 2-year price inflation. As with other PricePoint Systems, view one UT hospital at a time. Utah Hospital Assn

Vermont - 2009 Hospital Report Cards (Act 53)  

Vermont calls these ratings Act 53 report cards, in honor of legislation passed in 2003, requiring VT hospitals to publish annual community reports about hospital quality, safety, financial health, costs for services and more. This government site links to all of the data, including outpatient prices. Health conditions include heart care, pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, central line associated bloodstream infection rates, hysterectomy infections, knee replacement and hip replacement infection rates, volume and death rates for resection of esophagus or of pancreas (usually for cancer), pediatric heart surgery, abdominal aneurysm repair (AAA), & more. This site earns Editor's Pick for putting Composite Quality Ratings, Survival Rate information, links to patient satisfaction and current medical prices all on the same same web page for easy access. Well done. Nurse staffing also available.

Vermont - Hospital Outpatient Surgery Prices, 2008 (pdf)  

Compare average gross charge (the closest you will get to average cost) for most common outpatient surgical procedures at 14 general hospitals in VT. Prices for procedures such as colonoscopy ($1859 state average, with low of $1255 at Porter Hospital to high of $2816 at North Country), colon polyp removal ($2409 average), cataract surgery (average $4575), endoscopy (stomach endoscopy prices range from $1356 at Southwestern to $3313 at Fletcher Allen), fetal monitoring (average $596), knee cartilage surgery ($5400 average), shoulder surgery, gall bladder removal (average $9353, range $7279 to $20,093 for laparoscopy), breast biopsy (avg. $3068), other biopsies, ear tubes (average $2293), cardiac catheterization (avg. $8271), tonsillectomy (about $4400), nerve block, bunion removal (range $4383 to $10,304), D & C ($3849) and many more procedures; 12-month avg. charges ending Sept. 30, 2008. As with all of Vermont's reports, the font size is about as small as you can get. Nonetheless, Editor's Pick

Virginia - Compare HMOs (Quality and Satisfaction)  

Easy to use tool to compare insurance plan ratings: Aetna, CapitalCare, CareFirst BlueChoice, CIGNA, HealthKeepers, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic, MD IPA, Optima, Optimum Choice, Peninsula, Piedmont, Priority, Southern, UnitedHealthcare including River Valley. Choose measures for access, asthma, ADHD, heart, diabetes, arthritis, immunizations, medications, mental health, preventive care, low back pain, spirometry for COPD, prenatal, maternity and newborn care; well child visits and childhood illnesses, member satisfaction for 2007. Also includes Board certification rates for some types of physicians, number of enrollees, and financial data

Wisconsin - HMO Health Plan Quality and Consumer Satisfaction Graphs

Scroll to the bottom to find the links for graphs comparing rates for breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, diabetes care / eye exams, follow-up for mental illness, time spent with physician, children's visits to primary care providers, and overall rating of health insurance plans: Dean, Group Health Coop, Gundersen Lutheran, Humana, MercyCare HMO, Network, Physicians Plus, UnitedHealthcare, Unity, WPS and more. 2007 data, updated Nov. 2008 by State of WI, OCI

Wisconsin Collaborative (WCHQ) - Physician Group Ratings  

Compare WI physician clinics on measures related to Appointment availability (time to schedule a doctor's appt.), Diabetes, Hypertension, Cholesterol management, Postpartum care, smoking & osteoporosis screening, pneumonia shot, and screening for Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer & Colorectal Cancer. Includes Affinity, Aurora, Bellin, Columbia St. Mary's, Dean, Franciscan Skemp, Gundersen Clinic, Luther Midelfort, Marshfield Clinic, Medical College Physicians, Mercy, Prevea, ProHealth, ThedaCare, UW Health and Wheaton Franciscan. Some info for Monroe Clinic, West Bend, and LakeShore Medical. The Sort-by-Rank option helps you see better performers on the top of your list for some items. Easy to read reports by WI Collaborative for Healthcare Quality; 2008 and 2009 data

Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality - Hospital Inpatient Ratings & Prices

Compare hospital performance ratings for Surgery (including heart valves, gastric bypass [weight loss], angioplasty [PCI]), Heart Care, Maternity Care, Pneumonia, computerized physician orders to prevent medication errors, ICU staffing and more. Over 20 hospitals participate. Shows charges (average 2007 price) for some heart care, knee replacement, childbirth delivery, and pneumonia care; includes Leapfrog, CMS/Joint Commission measures. Some 2008 data. WCHQ report