Hospital Pricing
Welcome to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) Hospital Pricing Website
The hospital association and its members believe patients have a right to know more about the prices hospitals charge for services. Patients should also know about how well hospitals are paid for the care they deliver and how much of the care delivered is not paid for.
In response, WSHA has produced WSHA Hospital Pricing, a database of hospital charges, utilization, and payer mix. Specifically, using this site, you can find:
- Hospital charge information for all services at all Washington hospitals
- Information about how much of each hospital's business comes from each of three major payment sources: private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid
- Aggregate information on the amount of charges paid to each hospital for the three major kinds of health care coverage – private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid
- Information about the amount of charity care and other unpaid care each hospital delivers
You should know that while this information contains hospital charges, it will not tell you how much you will owe for a hospital stay to receive a specific kind of care. That information is best obtained from your own insurance company. The insurance company negotiates payment arrangements with the hospital and knows how much you will have to pay under the plan that covers you. So, while publicly reported hospital charge data will not answer every question, it should, at a minimum, provide a good and factual starting point for more informed discussion between you, your insurance company, and your hospital care giver.
Here are a few additional tips for understanding the information presented and for seeking out further assistance.
IF YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE: These insurers negotiate discounts with hospitals on behalf of the patients they represent. The discounts vary among insurers and numerous factors will affect your financial responsibility to a hospital. The hospital that appears the least expensive on our website may not be the least expensive for you, depending on your insurer's contract with the hospital.
IF YOU HAVE MEDICARE: Medicare pays hospitals according to a set fee schedule that represents a discount from a hospital's billed charges.
IF YOU HAVE MEDICAID: Medicaid pays hospitals according to a set fee schedule that represents a discount from a hospital's billed charges.
IF YOU ARE UNINSURED: All Washington hospitals offer free or discounted care for low income, uninsured patients. You should contact the hospital's billing or financial assistance office and ask for help with charity care or financial assistance.
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