Health Affairs published yesterday a study that lists the 50 U.S. hospitals that charge the most. The study used 2012 Medicare data to examine hospitals that charge on average more than 10 times their costs. The national average is 3.4 times over cost.
Twenty (40 percent) operate in Florida. All but one are for-profit hospitals. Fourteen of the 20 Florida hospitals (70 percent) are owned by HCA.
Four of the Florida hospitals are in the Panhandle. The most expensive one is North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview.
Why is this important? The study points out that uninsured patients are commonly asked to pay the full charges, and out-of-network patients and casualty and workers’ compensation insurers are often expected to pay a large portion of the full charges.
Maybe this is something that Gov. Rick Scott’s hospital commission should consider as it reviews the cost of health care in Florida. BTW: Scott was CEO of HCA.
1.North Okaloosa Medical Center – Crestview, FL
2.Carepoint Health-Bayonne Hospital – Bayonne, NJ
3.Bayfront Health – Brooksville, FL
4.Paul B Hall Regional Medical Center – Paintsville, KY
5.Chestnut Hill Hospital – Philadelphia
6.Gadsden Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL
7.Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center – Davenport, FL
8.Orange Park Medical Center – Lakeside, FL
9.Western Arizona Regional Medical Center – Bullhead City, AZ
10.Oak Hill Hospital – Brooksville, FL
11.Texas General Hospital – Grand Prairie, TX
12.Fort Walton Beach Medical Center – Fort Walton Beach, FL
13.Easton Hospital – Easton, PA
14.Brookwood Medical Center – Birmingham, AL
15.National Park Medical Center – Hot Springs National Park, AR
16.St. Petersburg General Hospital – St. Petersburg, FL
17.Crozer Chester Medical Center – Chester, PA
18.Riverview Regional Medical Center – Gadsden, AL
19.Regional Hospital of Jackson – Jackson, TN
20.Sebastian River Medical Center – Sebastian, FL
21.Brandywine Hospital – Coatsville, PA
22.Osceola Regional Medical Center – Kissimmee, FL
23.Decatur Morgan Hospital-Parkway Campus – Decatur, AL
24.Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma – Durant, OK
25.Gulf Coast Medical Center – Panama City, FL
26.South Bay Hospital – Sun City Center, FL
27.Fawcett Memorial Hospital – Port Charlotte, FL
28.North Florida Regional Medical Center – Gainesville, FL
29.Doctors Hospital of Manteca – Manteca, CA
30.Doctors Medical Center – Modesto, CA
31.Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute – Fort Pierce, FL
32.Lakeway Regional Hospital – Morristown, TN
33.Brandon Regional Hospital – Brandon, FL
34.Hahnemann University Hospital – Philadelphia
35.Phoenixville Hospital – Phoenixville, PA
36.Stringfellow Memorial Hospital – Anniston, AL
37.Lehigh Regional Medical Center – Lehigh Acres, FL
38.Southside Regional Medical Center – Petersburg, VA
39.Twin Cities Hospital – Niceville, FL
40.Olympia Medical Center – Los Angeles
41.Springs Memorial Hospital – Lancaster, SC
42.Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point – Hudson, FL
43.Dallas Regional Medical Center – Mesquite, TX
44.Laredo Medical Center – Laredo, TX
45.Bayfront Health Dade City – Dade City, FL
46.Pottstown Memorial Medical Center – Pottstown, PA
47.Dyersburg Regional Medical Center – Dyersburg, TN
48.South Texas Health System – Edinburg, TX
49.Kendall Regional Medical Center – Miami, FL
50.Lake Granbury Medical Center – Granbury, TX