Getting Surgery Cost Info From Hospitals Proves Challenging

A study shows a wide range of costs for hip replacement surgery and confusion among some hospitals about the price of the procedure.

Researchers contacted 122 hospitals in every state and asked what a routine replacement surgery on a healthy patient without insurance would cost. The price tags ranged from as little as $11,000 to nearly $126,000.  Callers pretended they were getting the quote for a grandmother who was uninsured but could afford to pay.

The researchers were able to obtain a complete price estimate including physician fees from close to half the hospitals. But in most cases, that took contacting the hospital and doctor separately. About 15 percent of hospitals did not provide any price estimate, even after a researcher called back as many as five times.

The study, published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that many hospitals "are completely unprepared" for costs questions.  One of the authors of the report says most hospitals aren't intentionally hiding costs; they're just not used to patients asking.

U.S. insurance companies typically negotiate to pay less than the billing price. Insured patients' health plans determine what they pay, while uninsured patients may end up paying the full amount.

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