Estimating the cost of medical care in Colorado gets easier, thanks to a new online tool

Have you ever wondered how much a surgery, x-ray, or medical appointment will cost you?

A new Colorado vehicle, started by government and non-profit organization Patient Rights Lawyer.orgIt offers patients the opportunity to easily search for these answers.

called Colorado Hospital Price FinderThe online tool allows you to search for a hospital and see what it charges based on the payer, whether it’s an insurance company, an employer, or something else.

While the tool provides information based on historical costs, it cautions that actual costs must be verified by the hospital or provider.

The tool uses health care information provided under a contract. 2022 state law This requires hospitals to publish clear, accessible pricing information for all products and services.

“For too long, there has been a veil of secrecy and confusion that has made it difficult for payers such as employers, municipalities, school districts, and other health care purchasers to negotiate lower prices with hospitals,” Lt. Governor said. Primavera in a newsletter. “This tool breaks down barriers and helps buyers and policymakers access the information they need to lower costs for consumers.”
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing published a similar tool September report comparing multiple hospitals’ gross charges, discounted cash prices, estimated Medicare costs, and commercially agreed prices. This toolLeveraging similar data provided by the 2022 state law and the 2021 Federal Price Transparency Rule, it organizes and displays them differently than the new Colorado Hospital Price Finder.