Study Reveals 16-Fold Variation in Hospital Prices for Emergency Care

A study published in JAMA Surgery reveals that hospitals across the US charge vastly different prices for trauma care, with the same care costing up to 16 times more at some hospitals compared to others. The study found that cash prices for trauma care are often significantly cheaper than the negotiated prices paid by insurance companies, highlighting the lack of transparency and consistency in hospital pricing. This poses a significant problem for uninsured and financially vulnerable patients, as they are unable to compare prices and may end up paying more than insured patients.