Virginia nonprofit releases procedure costs

The Richmond-based nonprofit Virginia Health Information (VHI) released a report that lists the average costs health insurance companies pay for 31 different medical procedures in Virginia.

The study, which was intended primarily for Virginians with no health insurance, high-deductible health plan subscribers and those who want to know what level co-pays to expect, makes Virginia one of only “a few states with healthcare pricing information,” according to VHI’s Executive Director, Michael T. Lundberg.

The report posts average allowable costs for both Medicare and commercial plans, including the commercial costs of a medium-level ER visit ($405), a mammogram ($95-$133) and normal birth ($5,076).

Although some pricing is missing from the report, especially the costs paid by Medicare, Virginia legislative delegate and physician John O’Bannan, MD, called the report "a great first step in empowering citizens to be educated consumers of healthcare."

To view the cost-report, click here.


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