Thankful Thursday: Rising Hospital Costs

Let me just tell you how happy and thankful I am for insurance. No joke, this week I just paid off the last of my hospital bill for when I gave birth to my 2 year old daughter.

(does this mean I can't return her??)

Here is my state at a glance

California- Here

Find the Article HERE

AVERAGE CHARGES FOR GIVING BIRTH: STATE CHARTS

The following charts present data about average facility charges for labor and birth in individual states. Average charges are provided for four birth outcomes: uncomplicated vaginal birth, complicated vaginal birth, uncomplicated cesarean, and complicated cesarean. Data are only available for states that participate in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Where available, data on birth center charges for uncomplicated vaginal birth are also presented. These charts demonstrate significant variation across sites, birth methods, and states, summarized in the companion:Quick Facts.

Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Florida • Hawaii • Illinois • Iowa • Kansas •Kentucky • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Missouri •Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • Oklahoma • Oregon • Rhode Island • South Carolina • Tennessee • Texas •Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

View national average charges for the United States.

View a compendium of all states as a PDF or in Slideshare.

QUICK FACTS

Compared with other states in this group:

• Maryland hospitals consistently charged the lowest amount for all methods of delivery except uncomplicated vaginal birth, and in all years. Even for uncomplicated vaginal birth, charges in Maryland were $3000 below the national average from 2007-2009. Other states with consistently low charges are West Virginia, Utah, Vermont, and Maine.
• New Jersey hospitals consistently charged the highest amount for all methods of delivery, and in all years except for complicated cesarean birth in 2009. Even then, New Jersey hospitals charged more than $14,000 above the national average. Other states with consistently high charges are California,Florida, Rhode Island and Nevada.

Charges for uncomplicated vaginal births grew by 7% from 2007 to 2008, with an average increase of $503, and by 8% from 2008 to 2009 with and average increase of $623. For all years, Kansas, West Virginia, and Vermont experienced the largest percentage increases.

Charges for complicated vaginal births grew by 7% from 2007 to 2008, with an average increase of $715, and by 8% from 2008 to 2009 with an average increase of $835. Charges in Rhode Island demonstrated the largest percentage increase from 2007 to 2008, growing by 23%. Charges in Vermont showed the largest percentage increase from 2008-2009, growing by 19%.

Charges for uncomplicated cesarean births grew by 2% from 2007 to 2008, with an average increase of $250, and by 8% from 2008 to 2009, with an average increase of $1,100. From 2007 to 2008 Kentucky showed the largest percentage growth with charges increasing by 13%. From 2008-2009, Wyoming by far showed the largest percentage growth, with charges increasing by 38%.

Charges for complicated cesarean births showed the largest increases from year to year in both percentage and absolute terms, growing by 8% from 2007 to 2008 with an average increase of $1,356, and by 9% from 2008 to 2009 with an average increase of $1538. From 2007 to 2008 Kentucky and Tennessee showed the largest percentage increases, growing by 16% and 15% respectively. From 2008 to 2008Wyoming and Vermont showed the largest percentage increases, growing by 33% and 20% respectively.

Data Source: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HCUPnet, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Rockville, MD: AHRQ. Available at:http://hcupnet.ahrq.gov/

*Note: This sheet contains information for 33 states. Fifteen states do not share information with HCUP and two states, Illinois and New Mexico, only provide information for 2009.

http://transform.childbirthconnection.org/resources/datacenter/chargeschart/statecharges/