A new study shows a great disparity of hospital radiology service rates, when comparing those from Medicare and commercial negotiated prices, which will make it easier for payers and patients to shop for hospital care.
The median commercial negotiated prices for 13 common shoppable hospital radiology services were about 2 to 6 times higher than the rates set by Medicare, according to a new study in Radiology by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Michigan State University.
According to data this year from approximately 2,000 U.S. hospitals that disclosed pricing information, the price differences ranged from 2.2 times higher for mammography of both breasts ($289 median commercial price vs. $129 Medicare rate) to 5.9 times higher for a CT scan of the head or brain without contrast ($813 median commercial price vs. $137 Medicare rate).
Other notably high price differences included an MRI scan of the lower spinal canal ($1,311 commercial vs. $269 Medicare, or 4.9 times higher); a CT scan of the pelvis with contrast ($1,079 commercial vs. $221 Medicare, or 4.9 times higher); and an MRI scan of a leg joint ($1,276 commercial vs. $267 Medicare, also 4.8 times higher).
Read the full article at John Hopkins University.
