The New Year Will Bring More Transparency In Hospital Prices

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A new federal health care rule requires hospitals to publicly post prices for every service they offer and break down those prices by component and procedure.

Catie Dull/NPR

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Catie Dull/NPR

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It’s also been said that instead of inspiring high-priced hospitals and surgical centers to lower their prices, this might just inspire the lower-cost hospitals and surgical centers to say, hey, we can get people to pay more for a heart stent or spinal fusion so we’re going to raise our prices.

You know, in every other marketplace in our economy, the consumers benefited from competition. So when hospitals have to compete for our hard-earned dollars, what we can see as consumers is we’ll shop with our feet to get the best quality of care at the lowest possible price. Think about it. Why didn’t we know prices in health care? It’s almost absurd. And now that’s over.

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Any concern that people are going to make their judgments according to price? When all is said and done, do you really want to get the cheapest hip replacement possible or the best?

Well, there’s wide variation in prices within the same facility. So, for instance, an MRI in Boston at a discounted cash price can be $250. In the same facility, you can pay as high as $2,000 from an insured negotiated rate. The only way that a consumer can benefit to get that lower rate is to know those price variations and not stand for being price gouged.

I think some people listening to our conversation might think this is the regretful thing about the American health care system. People have to shop to receive health care. Why shouldn’t it just be their right to have the lowest possible price?

Well, I agree with you that it should be the American consumer’s right to have the lowest possible price. I can share with you, Scott, that this week the American consumers won in the courts and no more will we have those surprise bills. Every bill’s been a surprise.

Star McCown, Samantha Balaban and Kitty Eisele produced and edited the audio version of this story. Avie Schneider produced for the Web.