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Some hospitals charge vastly more for same care

Data being released for the first time by the government on Wednesday shows that hospitals charge Medicare wildly differing amounts sometimes 10 to 20 times what Medicare typically reimburses for the same procedure, raising questions about how hospitals determine prices and why they differ so widely.

By Lauran Neergaard | Updated on May 08, 2013

WASHINGTON — Hospitals within the same city sometimes charge tens of thousands of dollars more for the same procedures, according to figures the government released for the first time Wednesday. The federal list sheds new light on the mystery of just how high a hospital bill might go — and whether it’s cheaper to get the care somewhere else.

There are vast disparities nationally. The average charges for joint replacement range from about $5,300 at an Ada, Okla., hospital to $223,000 in Monterey Park, Calif.

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