Employee healthcare benefits advisory firm Change:Healthcare found significant regional disparity in the cost of imaging studies in the U.S. in its quarterly Healthcare Transparency Index.
The index is based on claims data from more than 150,000 patients enrolled in employer-provided health plans in more than 200 companies across all 50 states, according to the firm. Significant pricing disparities were found at outpatient facilities, freestanding imaging centers, and medical offices, both from region to region and within the same region, Change:Healthcare said.
Patients who participate in consumer-directed health plans and high-deductible plans could be paying almost 700% more than they have to for imaging services, according to the firm.
The index showed an average of 40% possible savings across all regions for patients receiving the three most frequent CT scans (abdomen without contrast, abdomen with contrast, and pelvis with contrast) just by shopping local facilities, Change:Healthcare said. In the Southwest, patients could pay up to 683% more for the same CT scan. In contrast, patients in the lower-variance Midwest paid an extra $290, or 120%.
In MRI, the index showed a 25% average savings potential across all regions for patients receiving the three most frequent MRI studies (lower extremity, brain, and lumbar spine) by patients shopping local facilities. Patients receiving the same MRI in the same area of the Southeast could pay a high of $2,500 and a low of $560, the company said.
As for ultrasound, the company said that shopping local facilities can yield a 28% savings for patients receiving the three most frequent studies (breast, abdomen, and transvaginal). The highest price of an ultrasound reported in one area was $700 for an abdominal exam, while the lowest was $120.
Change:Healthcare also found significant potential savings across the U.S. by comparing prices in PET. In the Northeast, reported cost ranged from $3,500 to $4,500, while patients in the Midwest paid a maximum of $2,500 and a minimum of $1,400, according to the firm.
In mammography, patients could save an average of 17% per year by switching providers, according to the company.
