Hospitals charge 'whatever the market will bear,' - California

Interesting study that compares several areas...and lists the most expensive hospitals in the state for the cost of admission...BD

The prices that California hospitals charge private insurers and patients vary dramatically - even after factors like the number of uninsured and the severity of illnesses are considered, according to a study released Tuesday.
Sponsors of the study, which include the California Public Employees' Retirement System and the Pacific Business Group on Health, say hospital consolidation - or a lack of competition within a region - appears to be a major factor in determining how much a hospital will charge for its services. Hospitals in Northern California are generally more expensive than those in Southern California, where there is more competition.
Emerson said private insurers have long had to make up for shortfalls caused by Medi-Cal and Medicare. "We all know we have a broken health care system," she said. "We all know government payers don't pay their share, so commercial purchasers have to make up for that."
A hospital admission that would cost an average of $10,000 in California would cost the following at each hospital: -- Cedars Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles): $17,900; -- Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center (Los Angeles): $16,290 (see the article for more listings)