Other Helpful Listings

Drugs - Slang Terms

If you ever wondered what (illegal) street drugs were called, or what prescription drugs might be referred to when misused, this site by The Partnership for a Drug-free America will give it to you straight. Includes pictures of the pills

Georgia Hospital Price Check - Compare costs by name of hospital

Georgia Hospital Association shows GA hospital comparisons on Price (the closest available to average cost). Common hospital stays and surgery prices are listed similar to other pricepoint systems. An overall Quality Index is also provided for each hospital to help consumers make a value choice. Average charges from 2007

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2009  

Recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for over 90 Screening tests, Preventive Medication, Immunizations, and Counseling activities. Sample Topics: Screening Mammography at age 50 instead of age 40 (updated), Cancer (e.g. which is more cost effective - colonoscopy or fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer?), recommended screening for bladder cancer or skin cancer, Heart Disease (including aspirin for prevention), smoking cessation, screening for depression in children, diabetes screening, folic acid supplements, glaucoma screening, COPD and spirometry

Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care - Certified Hospitals

List of Primary Stroke Centers, Stroke Rehab, and other disease-specific care certified organizations in the US. Most are hospitals. Other certified programs include orthopedic joint replacement (hip, knee), COPD (most listed under A for Advanced COPD), sickle cell services, burn center, bariatric surgery, high-risk OB; bone marrow, heart, liver transplants; cancer (including breast, lung, pancreatic, prostate); diabetes; AAA, Alzheimer's, sleep program, wound care, spine treatment program, migraines, Parkinsons disease, ESRD, palliative care, epilepsy, congestive heart failure, heart failure, AMI, pneumonia and more. July 2010 list is 75 pages, and hard to use because health condition certifications are listed under multiple titles such as "Advanced"

Maryland HMO & Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2008-2009

Compare Aetna (Maryland, DC & Virginia), CareFirst BlueChoice, BluePreferred PPO, CIGNA, Connecticut General, Coventry, Kaiser Permanente, MD-IPA, MAMSI Life, and OCI Optimum Choice on member satisfaction (CAHPS) and HEDIS measures such as immunizations, children's health, cancer screening, heart and diabetes care, mental health behavioral care, spirometry for COPD, and more. Comprehensive report by Maryland Health Care Commission includes scores for prenatal care and high blood pressure control; enrollment market share. 2008/2009 Performance Report, released September 2008

Maryland Hospital Quality Ratings (MHCC)

Readmission Rates, volume, and average length of stay data on the most common groups of illnesses or conditions for which people are hospitalized in Maryland. Topics include heart conditions, lung conditions (including pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, asthma), hip and knee surgery, GI and digestive problems, septicemia, stroke and TIA, kidney failure, bowel procedures, diabetes, maternity and newborn care, seizures & headaches, and more. MD Hospital Performance Evaluation Guide shows 2006 or 2008 data, pub. by MD Health Care Commission

Minnesota - Hospital Price Check (Inpatient & Outpatient)

Hospital-specific prices (charges) for the 50 most common inpatient hospitalizations (DRGs) and top 25 same-day surgery procedures in MN. Find average or median inpatient cost, volume and length of stay for newborns and child birth delivery, pneumonia, chest pain, COPD, hip or knee replacement, appendectomy, cellulitis, hysterectomy, rehab, other surgeries & many more. Outpatient prices for biopsies, cataracts, colonoscopy, ear tubes, gallbladder, hernia repair, arthroscopy, tonsillectomy, upper GI endoscopy, hysteroscopy, carpal tunnel and other same-day surgery. Must know the County in order to select which hospital's prices you want. See one hospital and one procedure at a time; by Minnesota Hospital Association, 2007 prices

Nebraska Hospital PricePoint System (Inpatient Charges)

Find average price and typical charges for many types of inpatient hospital stays in NE. Examples: maternity prices, angioplasty, heart surgery, some cancer services, hip & knee surgery, bowel surgery, pneumonia, stroke, UTI, gall bladder surgery (inpatient only). Includes volume, average length of stay in the hospital, and median age of patient. Does not include physician costs. Shows one hospital/ one disease or condition at a time; 2007-2008 data. All cities including Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Creighton, Norfolk, Kearney. NHA Care Compare is sponsored by the Nebraska Hospital Association

Nevada PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

Find average price and typical charges for 67 types of inpatient hospitalizations in NV. Examples: childbirth prices, COPD, heart surgery, pacemaker, stents, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, psychiatric hospitalization, rehab. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time; 2008-2009 charges shown. Must inflate and add physician fees to estimate 2010 average costs. Sponsored by the Nevada Hospital Association

New Mexico Hospitals PricePoint (Inpatient Charges)

Check charges (average price) and volumes for about 64 types of hospitalizations, representing about half of all NM hospital stays. No side-by-side comparisons; just one hospital at a time. Hospital conditions include maternity and newborn births, hip or knee replacement, back surgery, heart care, psychiatric, rehab care, and more. May also show hospital charity care and bad debt costs. Site by the New Mexico Hospitals and Health Systems Association, has not updated their 2005 prices, now 5 years old

Ohio Hospital Charges and Utilization, 2007 (ohio.gov)

Ohio.gov Web site shows DRG (diagnosis related groups) inpatient charges (the closest available for average cost) and volumes by hospital. Public Warehouse data. Must know DRGs in order to find the procedure prices you want. Common hospitalizations: childbirth/ maternity & newborn delivery, heart problems, gall bladder, hysterectomy, pneumonia, stroke, rehab, joint surgery. Top 60 types of hospital stays

Oklahoma PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

Find average 2007 price and typical charges for many types of inpatient hospitalizations in OK. Examples: childbirth delivery prices, heart surgery, cardiac cath, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, pneumonia, psychiatric hospitalization, rehab. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Hospital Association. Consumers will need to inflate the old 2007 charges to estimate 2010 prices

Oregon - 2008 PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

To get an idea of the average cost of hospital care, the Basic Query option allows users to check charges and volumes for 64 types of hospitalizations, representing about half of all hospital stays in Oregon. Includes maternity & newborn prices, heart care, stents, cardiac cath, heart transplant, hip and knee replacement charges, bone cancer, psychiatric hospitalization, alcohol & drug abuse, stomach or bowel problems, and rehabilitation charges. Hospital charity care and bad debt expenses also shown. Site by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) shows one hospital, one condition at a time, using 2008 data. Consumers can try to get 2009 prices by calling the hospital

Prevention & Screening - Employer's Guide to 46 Health Services

Detailed and well-researched summaries of the Screening, Counseling and Prevention activities recommended for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), alcohol misuse, aspirin therapy, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, adult and childhood immunizations and screening, contraceptive use, healthy pregnancy (15 topics including influenza vaccination), depression, type 2 diabetes, diet, lipid disorders (cholesterol), obesity, hypertension, motor vehicle injury prevention, osteoporosis, sexually transmitted infections / STDs, tobacco use, and tuberculosis. One page overview in Part 7: Life Course Charts; Condition-specific evidence statements in Part 3. Prepared by the National Business Group on Health in collaboration with CDC: A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage. Pub. 2006, updated 2009

Rhode Island PricePoint (Hospital Inpatient Charges)

Find average 2006 price and typical charges for 64 types of inpatient hospitalizations in RI. Examples: childbirth delivery prices, heart surgery, cardiac cath, stents, hip & knee surgery, digestive problems, pneumonia, psychiatric hospitalization, rehab. Average length of stay in the hospital also given. Choose Comprehensive Query for prices on many other conditions not on the Basic list. Get one hospital/one disease or condition at a time. Sponsored by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island (HARI), using old 2006 charges. Consumers will need to inflate the old charges for estimating currrent prices

South Dakota Average Charges for Top 25 Inpatient Hospital Stays - Statewide 2007

Data on median charges (typical prices) for 25 high-frequency SD inpatient hospitalizations and surgery. Includes newborns ($2025) and uncomplicated deliveries ($5244), Cesarean section; psychoses ($6404) and depression ($4996); complicated pneumonia, COPD ($9905); hip, knee, joint replacement ($31,450); back problems; heart failure ($10,640), Stent ($26,229), chest pain; digestive, stomach and abdominal procedures; hysterectomy ($15,763, up 15% from 2006); stroke; rehabilitation ($19,495, up 15%); kidney failure ($14,776) and more. To find the usual price for a specific hospital or surgical center, click on Hospitals in the upper right of the web page. Pub. June 2008 by SD Department of Health, 2007 prices

Texas PricePoint - Compare Hospital Inpatient Charges (Prices)

If you are looking for average cost of hospital care or surgery, the 2007 prices at this site by the Texas Hospital Association might be the closest you can find. Information for one hospital at a time (no side-by-side comparisons) for maternity, childbirth, newborn, c-section; hip or knee replacement, fracture repair; pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, asthma; heart failure, chest pain, cardiac cath, bypass, stent, heart transplant; mental health, psychiatric hospitalization, depression; alcohol rehab; bowel surgery; back problems including spinal fusion and more. Volumes at each hospital are shown.

Utah Inpatient Hospital Charges, 2008 - Utah PricePoint

Utah provides average charges (price) statewide, and on a hospital-specific basis for many common inpatient stays, such as pneumonia, stroke, appendectomy, hip and knee procedures, gall bladder surgery, hysterectomy, heart failure, heart attack, chest pain, coronary bypass, heart valve procedures, vaginal and cesarean deliveries, newborn births, chemotherapy, psychoses, alcohol or drug abuse, rehabilitation, back and neck procedures, digestive disorders, abdominal surgery, nutritional/metabolic problems, transplants and much more. Volumes (2008 data) and length of stay are included; does not include average cost for physicians. Consumers may adjust for 2010 costs by adding 2-year price inflation. As with other PricePoint Systems, view one UT hospital at a time. Utah Hospital Assn

Vermont - Compare Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2009 (pdf)

Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield of VT, CIGNA, MVP, and The Vermont Health Plan, on consumer and patient experiences; how well the plans do cancer screening, flu shot and other immunizations, antibiotic use in kids, prenatal care, asthma & bronchitis care, mental health treatment, back pain evaluation, blood pressure mgmt, alcohol dependence, arthritis and COPD care. State BISHCA report by Dept. of Banking, Insurance uses 2009 CAHPS and 2008 HEDIS data; 11 pages

Vermont - Inpatient Hospital Average Prices, 2008 (pdf)  

Report shows average prices (charges) for each VT hospital's most frequent inpatient admissions - includes newborn delivery, cesarean section, pneumonia, total hip or knee replacement, depression, psychoses such as schizophrenia, COPD & emphysema, heart failure, chest pain, rehabilitation, stomach problems, appendectomy, hysterectomy, bowel, TURP and other surgery; stent, heart cath, heart rhythm problems, back problems, kidney or urinary tract infection, and other hospital stays. All common hospital admissions were more than $5000. Compare costs on 55 different types of cases, listed by MS-DRG. Links to hospital discount policies for consumers with cost concerns; 2007-2008 average charges

Washington (state) Hospital Inpatient Prices

Find out the typical charges (2007-2008 prices) to estimate the average cost of hospital surgery or medical problems. About 60 types, including maternity care, psychiatric hospitalization and digestive problems, are covered. Shows one hospital at a time similar to other state pricepoint systems. Presented by the WA State Hospital Association (WSHA)

Wisconsin Hospitals PricePoint (Average Inpatient Prices)

Average charge and length of stay for common hospitalizations including maternity and newborn births, hip or knee replacement surgery, gallbladder removal, heart surgery, angioplasty, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), valves, cardiac cath, pacemaker, pneumonia, bipolar and other mental health, stroke, asthma, back care, asthma, COPD, rehab; kidney, heart, lung or other transplant; hysterectomy, prostate surgery, bowel surgery & more; Top 25 shown in a short report for each hospital. From WHA Information Center, part of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, using 2008-2009 data. Last year's charges are currently the closest information consumers are able to find about average costs; surgeon fees NOT included. It takes a few screens, but you can compare four hospitals (anywhere in the state) at one time. Wisc. Hospital Assn. created the PricePoint System now used in other states. Also shows charity care and inpatient volumes