Becker's Healthcare May 9, 2019
Prices paid to hospitals for services provided to privately insured patients compared to Medicare rates varied widely among states in 2017, according to a new Rand Corp. study.
The study conducted by Rand and the Employers’ Forum of Indiana, an employer-led healthcare coalition, examined the prices paid by private health plans to hospitals relative to Medicare at 1,598 hospitals in 25 states. Researchers looked at healthcare insurance claims for more than 4 million people, using data from self-insured employers, two state all- payer claims databases and records from health insurance plans.
Relative prices represent the negotiated allowed amounts paid per service, including amounts from the insurer and the patient, with adjustments based on the intensity of services, compared to the...