Southern California hospitals charge less than some in the Bay Area, report finds

Hospitals in Southern California generally charge lower rates to patients than those in the Bay Area, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News.

The computer analysis by Kaiser reporter Jordan Rau found that L.A. County, Orange County and Inland Empire hospitals fell below the $20,858 state average, while some Bay Area locations -- notably the San Francisco peninsula and Santa Clara County -- were higher.

From the report:

Hospital rates in the Bay Area now are among California’s most expensive, propelled upward by prominent hospitals and networks, including Sutter Health, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and John Muir Health, according to private and government data. Statewide, hospital prices have been rising rapidly for years. For privately insured patients, the cost of a stay has increased annually by an average of 8.5 percent over the past five years, while the cost of an outpatient visit has grown by 9.6 percent a year, state records reveal.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Dr. Sunao Gilbert dresses a leg injury for patient Christina Guzman last year at Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital while Reginald McCoy Jr., right, waits for treatment for what he thinks is a broken finger. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Gill]

Hospital charges are so exaggerated, I broke my harm a year ago, I was driven to the hospital my bill came out to $4,000.00+ dollars for for the treatment, I was at the hospital a total of 2 hours 30 min. waiting, a hour and half getting xrays and casting, When i received my bill it had charges for asprin i was given two pills $56.00 dollars. $2600.00 for xrays, $1390.00 for casting, $325.00 misc fees. This is defenilty a ripp off.

[dogrob1]

in the bay area they are wealthier and has less illegal immigration,they can afford health care,cutting health cost hasn't been in need in the bay area..its all about numbers SO.CAL.you do the math.

[anonymouswhoami]

Hospital charges are so exaggerated, I broke my harm a year ago, I was driven to the hospital my bill came out to $4,000.00+ dollars for for the treatment, I was at the hospital a total of 2 hours 30 min. waiting, a hour and half getting xrays and casting, When i received my bill it had charges for asprin i was given two pills $56.00 dollars. $2600.00 for xrays, $1390.00 for casting, $325.00 misc fees. This is defenilty a ripp off.

Posted by: Gill | October 24, 2010 at 11:31 AM

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The hospitals overcharge people with insurance because they cover for the millions of dollars the hospital loses when they treat people without insurance. The hospitals are federally mandated to treat everyone who comes to their ER, regardless of ability to pay, yet are not reimbursed by the government. If they didn't overcharge people with insurance, the hospitals would be out of business in no time. Instead of being angry at the hospitals, how about calling your politicians who support illegal immigration amnesty or decline to fine businesses who hire illegals. How about directing your anger at the insurance companies who place profits over providing reasonable health care policy prices. Most hospitals are in the red or just breaking even, why do you think that ERs are closing at an alarming rate?

[Jerry Payne]

Sutter Health is so large it's nearly monopolistic. Stanford has always been expensive as a cutting edge facility. John Muir also is dominant in the markets it serves. Sutter routinely faces down large insurers in contentious negotiations. For profit healthcare is just that.