Pain (see also Back, Migraine, and Surgery categories)

Primary Listings

Pain (MedlinePlus)

Pain at MedlinePlus provides information for all types of pain and pain management. Topics include non-drug pain relief, chronic pain, acute pain, moving beyond opioids, acupuncture and alternative therapy for pain, moving beyond opioids, quality of life scale for people with pain, nerve pain, palliative care, whiplash, tips for finding a pain physician, and links to organizations such as the American Chronic Pain Association.

Palliative Care – Provider Program Directory

Hospitals with Palliative Care programs are listed in this provider directory by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) in conjunction with the National Palliative Care Registry. Palliative care specializes in the relief of the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness; it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Other Helpful Listings

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

Find average charge for about 80 outpatient ambulatory surgery procedures done in hospitals in 2007 (excluding surgeon’s or other physician fees.) Consumers will need to adjust the 2007 prices for medical inflation, to estimate 2021 costs.  Add at least 56% for a rough estimate. Overall average was $6,100, compared to nearly $40,000 for inpatient surgery. In today’s 2022 medical dollars, that would be $9,500 and more than $62,000. Average colonoscopy & biopsy price in 2007 was $2,369; upper GI endoscopy $3,131; cataract & lens was $4,870; tonsillectomy $5,286; knee cartilage $7,357; hernia repair $8,187; outpatient gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) $10,838; breast biopsy $3,863; lumpectomy $7,458; ear tube surgery (myringotomy) $3,547; D&C $6,366; arthroscopy $8,970; incontinence procedures $9,929; varicose veins $,8459; bunionectomy $7,699; wrist fracture $7,807; $4,770 for circumcision. AHRQ Statistical Brief #86 was  published in February 2010. The report was updated in December 2021, with 2019 volumes, as Statistical Brief 287. Unfortunately, the federal government did not include average charges, or cost estimates. in the new report.

Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care – Certified Hospitals

Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care – Certified Hospitals helps you find hospitals that have achieved Certification or Advanced Certification in any of about 9 programs. Advanced certification in stroke care (Primary Stroke Centers or two other stroke designations) is the most common. Other advanced certification programs are in hip and knee, inpatient diabetes, perinatal services, and ventricular assist devices. Add-on certification is available for palliative care and primary care medical home. Many are listed as having Advanced programs. The Joint Commission is the leading accrediting body for hospitals.

Montana Hospital Outpatient Surgery and Test Costs

Find out how much outpatient surgery and imaging tests cost in Montana in 2019-2020. Compare MT hospital charges for ambulatory surgery and diagnostic tests such as colonoscopy (median charge $2,611 for a diagnostic colonoscopy code 45378), sigmoidoscopy, breast biopsy, cardiac stress tests, cardiac catheterization. All prices EXCLUDE surgeon fees and other physician costs. PricePoint system shows facility prices in the past, for common surgical procedures such as tonsillectomy (median $6,004 with adenoid removal, under age 12, code 42820), cataracts, ear tubes, knee cartilage, bunions, child’s appendix removal, carpal tunnel, gallbladder removal, skin lesions, upper GI endoscopy; x ray, CT, MRI (e.g. spine MRI without dye had a median price of $1,692, code 72148) and other radiology imaging prices listed. Costs are from July 2019-June 2020. Consumers may wish to add medical inflation to estimate 2023 prices. No updates available as of April 2023.

Vermont – Hospital Outpatient Surgery Prices, 2022

How much does outpatient surgery cost in Vermont? To find 2022 prices (the most recent available), see Section called Pricing of Common Services at Community Hospitals.

Tables 2A and 3P let you compare average gross charge (the closest you will get to average cost) for most common ambulatory surgery procedures at 14 general hospitals in VT. Table 3P (Other) Prices is more current, to September 2022, and it includes the physician charge. Hip replacement averaged $38,895 in VT. Knee replacement average cost was over $39,000; knee arthroscopy averaged $14,541. Outpatient gallbladder removal was $17,128 on average. A prostate biopsy was about $4,000. Hernia repair averaged $18,297. A tonsillectomy with adenoid removal in a child under age 12 was $12,618. Cataract prices, carpal tunnel release and more than 20 outpatient procedures are shown. Prices varied by hospital.

Table 2A shows prices for some procedures, 12 months through September 30, 2020 (two to three years old). Here you can find prices for ear tubes (myringotomy), outpatient hysterectomy, bunion removal, lumpectomy and other procedures. This table DOES NOT include the surgeon or other physician fees. Medical inflation has been about 4.7% over the past 2 years, and 9% over 3 years. As with all of Vermont’s reports, the font size is about as small as you can get.

Wisconsin – Ambulatory Surgery Facility Charges, 2021

How much does outpatient surgery cost in WI?  Compare Wisconsin ambulatory surgery facility charges (prices) for 2021 for each hospital and freestanding ambulatory surgery center. Find average 2021 charges for 20 common ambulatory surgery procedures, such as Colonoscopy (5 codes), Endoscopy, Angiography, Spinal Injection, Cataract & Lens ($7,916 average), Dental Surgery procedure (average $8,012), Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) average price $41,321 (up 4.5%); outpatient Knee surgery/arthroscopy $13,130 (up 5.9%), Carpal Tunnel $7,738 (up 6.8%) and more. For colonoscopy, a less-frequent Colorectal Cancer Screening, or colonoscopy for a patient that is NOT high risk (code G0121) had an average charge of $3,876 (up 4%) in 2021. However, the two most common colonoscopy procedures had an average charge of about $6,300. Number of procedures for each hospital and surgical center are shown for top 20 only. Go to the Overview report for a longer list of 40 procedures including gall bladder removal [laparoscopic cholecystectomy at $21,370 (up 8.8%) average statewide cost], ear tubes, and hernia repair. Prices do NOT include surgeon and physician fees, which may cost thousands of dollars and could double prices shown. Consumers should add medical inflation to estimate 2022 facility prices. Health Care Data Report 2021 by WHA Information Center, published 2022.