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AMA: 266 Clinical Performance Measures for Physicians, 2009 (pdf)  

The American Medical Association's Consortium for Performance Improvement has agreed on 266 measures in 42 clinical topics, that are supported by evidenced-based clinical guidelines. Topics include diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart care, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, stroke, pneumonia, emergency care, prenatal testing, cancer screening, smoking, prostate cancer care, ear and eye problems, depression, surgical infection prevention, GERD, end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, substance abuse, wound care and more. Written for medical professionals, but consumers might learn something about appropriate physician care

Ambulatory Surgery Average Charges in U.S. Hospitals, 2007  

Find average prices (mean charge) for about 80 outpatient ambulatory surgery procedures done in hospitals in 2007 (excluding surgeon's or other physician fees.) Average colonoscopy & biopsy price was $2369; upper GI endoscopy $3131; cataract & lens was $4870; tonsillectomy $5286; knee cartilage $7357; hernia repair $8187; outpatient gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) $10,838; breast biopsy $3863; lumpectomy $7458; ear tube surgery (myringotomy) $3547; D&C $6366; arthroscopy $8970; incontinence procedures $9929; vericose veins $8459; bunionectomy $7699; wrist fracture $7807; $4770 for circumcision. Consumers will need to adjust the 2007 prices to estimate 2010 facility costs; 2007 prices for many surgeries were up 25% to 41 percent over 2003 prices. Overall average was $6100, compared to nearly $40,000 for inpatient surgery. AHRQ Statistical Brief # 86 is based on 28 states (2/3 of US population) published February 2010

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

Health of Veterans - Institute of Medicine

The National Institute of Medicine (IOM) has assembled studies and reports of the health of our veterans. Topics include chemical and biological agents (including agent orange, mustard gas and sarin); deployment health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), health of former POWs, and hearing loss/ tinnitus. Special reports for Gulf War (Iraqi Freedom), Viet Nam, Korean War and World War II veterans

Maine - Outpatient Surgery & Procedures Prices, 2007

The most common type of colonoscopy in Maine (2007 prices for CPT code 45378) cost $1176. Unclear what the total charges would be, with both facility and physician fees. Cataract prices averaged $2264; most common Upper GI endoscopy was $1134 (CPT 43235). Knee arthroscopy average cost was $2409; Laparoscopic gall bladder removal was $3531 in 2007; Hernia repair was $3102; Hysteroscopy cost $2452; Carpal tunnel release was $1952; Ear tubes were $1185. Additional procedure prices (average cost) listed by CPT code are at this site by HealthWeb of Maine. Consumers must inquire as to what both facility charges and doctors' professional fees would be for 2009 and 2010

MedlinePlus: Traveler's Health

Topics for consumers who travel, such as jet lag, ears and altitude, motion sickness, in-flight medicine, traveler first aid kits, medical exams for international adoption, what Medicare covers outside the US, pregnancy and flying can all be found at this site

MN Physician fees, office visit cost, colonoscopy, more

Find how much physicians charge for professional services in Minnesota, ND, SD, WI through Minnesota HealthScores' Cost Report feature. Compare prices over 150 participating medical groups, and hundreds of clinic locations in Minnesota, and some border communities, for doctor office visits, lab tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy, minor office surgical procedures such as ear wax or wart removal; immunization, psychotherapy. Obstetric services, including inpatient delivery. Medical groups include Allina, Altru, Apple Valley, Aspen, Avera, Brainerd, Children's Physician Network, Dakota Clinic, Edina, Fairview, Fergus, Grand Itasca, Gundersen, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Lakewood, Mankato, Mayo Clinic, MeritCare, Innovis, North Memorial, Northstar, Olmsted, Osceola, Park Nicollet, Regina, Ridgeview, Sanford, St. Cloud CentraCare, St. Luke's, St. Mary's Duluth Clinic, Stillwater, United, University of Minnesota, Winona Clinic, and more; OB-GYN clinics, Report by MN Community Measurement. Does NOT include facility charges which are in the thousands for colonoscopy or childbirth. Interactive easy-to-use format. Implied 2009 prices

Montana Hospital Outpatient Surgery Costs

Compare MT hospital charges for ambulatory surgery and diagnostic tests such as colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, breast biopsy, cardiac stress tests, cardiac catheterization. All prices EXCLUDE surgeon fees and other physician costs. PricePoint system shows last year's facility prices for common surgical procedures such as tonsillectomy, cataracts, ear tubes, knee cartilage, bunions, child's appendix removal, carpal tunnel, skin lesions, upper GI endoscopy; 2007-2008 costs

usnews.com Best Hospitals 2009: Ear, nose, and throat

Uses 3 years of Medicare data, to select the top 50 best hospitals for ENT. Top of the list: Johns Hopkins and MD Anderson. Strong weight to Reputation scores and volume. Rankings also consider Mortality Index

Vermont - Hospital Outpatient Surgery Prices, 2008 (pdf)  

Compare average gross charge (the closest you will get to average cost) for most common outpatient surgical procedures at 14 general hospitals in VT. Prices for procedures such as colonoscopy ($1859 state average, with low of $1255 at Porter Hospital to high of $2816 at North Country), colon polyp removal ($2409 average), cataract surgery (average $4575), endoscopy (stomach endoscopy prices range from $1356 at Southwestern to $3313 at Fletcher Allen), fetal monitoring (average $596), knee cartilage surgery ($5400 average), shoulder surgery, gall bladder removal (average $9353, range $7279 to $20,093 for laparoscopy), breast biopsy (avg. $3068), other biopsies, ear tubes (average $2293), cardiac catheterization (avg. $8271), tonsillectomy (about $4400), nerve block, bunion removal (range $4383 to $10,304), D & C ($3849) and many more procedures; 12-month avg. charges ending Sept. 30, 2008. As with all of Vermont's reports, the font size is about as small as you can get. Nonetheless, Editor's Pick

WA Premera Blue Cross - Medical Clinic Quality & Patient Satisfaction Ratings 2008  

Fifteen (15) clinics participating in Premera Blue Cross' Quality Score Card report quality performance on asthma, breast and cervical cancer screening, diabetes, ear infection and well child visits, heart disease, cholesterol screening, use of generic drugs; patient satisfaction with appointment times, waiting times and overall quality, and more. Clinics: Columbia, Lakeshore, Madrona, Minor & James, MultiCare, Pacific, Pediatric Associates, Physicians (Spokane), Rockwood, Swedish, Everett Clinic, Polyclinic First Hill, UW Medicine Neighborhood, Virginia Mason Medical, and Wenatchee Valley. Washington state including Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Bellevue, Bothell, Bellingham

Wisconsin - Ambulatory Surgery Charges, 2008 (pdf)

Average 2008 charges in WI for 40 common ambulatory surgery procedures, such as Colonoscopy (6 codes), Endoscopy, Biopsy, Spinal Injection, Cataract & Lens, outpatient Knee surgery/arthroscopy, Cardiac Catheterization, Carpal Tunnel, Ear Tubes, Tonsillectomy, Hernia Repair, Cholecystectomy, Hysteroscopy, Cochlear Implant ($55,678), shoulder surgery. Volumes for each hospital and surgical center are shown for top 20 only. Prices do NOT include surgeon and physician fees, which may cost thousands of dollars and could double prices shown. Consumers should add inflation to estimate 2010 facility prices. Scroll to bottom of page for Chapters VI and VII Ambulatory Surgery, published by WHA Information Center March 2010

Wisconsin PricePoint - Outpatient & Ambulatory Surgery Cost

Compare outpatient and ambulatory surgery charges for colonoscopy (under Diagnostic), cataracts, ear surgery, cardiac catheterization, shoulder or knee surgery, carpal tunnel release (see Nerve), tonsil, appendix, breast biopsy, endoscopy, gallbladder, sterilization and more. Prices for tonsillectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy and ear tubes for kids are filed under C for Child. Shows one hospital or surgical center at a time, plus typical price in county and average 2008-2009 surgery prices in Wisconsin, excluding surgeon and other doctors' fees which may double the numbers you see here