Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 | 2 a.m.
People undergoing medical procedures in Las Vegas tend to pay less than patients do in other major metropolitan areas, according to a recent study of private insurance rates.
Castlight Health, a San Francisco-based health care information company, analyzed the costs — the patient’s share plus the amount paid by the insurer — of eight common medical procedures in 30 cities across the United States. Its finding: Health care costs vary drastically without a clear rhyme or reason.
For instance, Castlight Health Costliest Cities Index found that the price of a mammogram across the country ranged from $130 to $1,898. The analysis largely is based on medical claims data, but Castlight also used other information publicly available such as actual provider rate sheets that list the negotiated price between a provider and an insurer.
Here’s a look at how Las Vegas stacked up in each category:
Mammogram: Las Vegas ranked 20th of 30 with an average price of $236 for mammograms. Sacramento was the most expensive at $485 and Cincinnati was the cheapest at $159.
HPV test: Las Vegas ranked 12th with an average price of $66 for HPV tests. With an average price of $187, San Francisco was the most expensive and Charlotte, N.C., was the least expensive at $32.
Preventive gynecological exam: Las Vegas ranked 29th with an average price of $117 for preventive gynecological exams, making it the second cheapest city in the analysis. San Francisco was the most expensive at $214, while Phoenix came in the lowest at $111.
OB/GYN follow-up visit: Las Vegas again ranked 29th with an average price of $70 for OB/GYN follow-up visits. Minneapolis was the most expensive at $96, and Phoenix was the cheapest at $68.
Lipid panel: Las Vegas fared worse in this category, ranking as the third most expensive city with an average price of $83 for lipid panels. (The price of lipid panels in Las Vegas increased 143 percent over the previous year.) Indianapolis was the most expensive at $98, while Detroit was the cheapest at $41.
Preventive primary care visit: Las Vegas ranked 28th with an average price of $113 for preventive primary care visits. The cost of such an appointment was highest in Minneapolis at $228 and lowest in Miami at $96.
CT scan of head/brain: Las Vegas ranked 15th — in other words, middle of the road — with an average cost of $961 for a CT scan of the head/brain. Indianapolis was the most expensive at $1,362, and Washington, D.C., was the cheapest at $592.
MRI of lower back: Las Vegas ranked 14th with an average price of $1,580 for an MRI of the lower back. Indianapolis’ average cost of $2,307 was the highest, while Detroit’s average of $1,009 was the lowest.
Jackie Valley can be reached at 702-524-8269 or [email protected]. Follow Jackie on Twitter at twitter.com/JackieValley
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