In another sign that consumer access to healthcare price information is heating up, the healthcare rating company HealthGrades on Monday launched a web site that displays average list price, health plan portion, and out-of-pocket portion for 55 hospital-based procedures, by region. Prices include hospital, outpatient, physician, laboratory, and drug fees. The company reports that the average list price of procedures is lowest in the West and highest in the South, while the average amounts negotiated by health plans tend to be lowest in the Northeast and highest in the Midwest. Average out-of-pocket expenses are highest in the West and lowest in the Northeast.
