The REAL Reason Your Hospital Bill's Outta Sight (ps - it has nothing to do with insurance)

by LAS

Please read about this shocking story on Associated Content at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5632476/the_real_reason_your_hospital_bills.html?cat=3

Please read the original article at Washington Monthly and then raise some hell with Congress: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2010/1007.blake.html

New Online Hospital Comparison Tool from Consumer Reports Unveiled

Called “Your Hospital Stay”, it allows you to compare hospitals online. Key in your state and city and get comparisons of hospitals in your area.

I should add that I have tried a similar site for the state of Minnesota -- and one very big tip I can pass along is to compare the local hospital to an outlying county. I found that prices for an average, common surgical procedure could be $2,000 less by going outside Hennepin County to neighboring Scott County -- to the town of Shakopee, for example.

http:// health-insurance.suite101.com/article.cfm/compare_hospitals_online_now (unfortunately they do not give you a link to the Consumer Reports tool)

http:// www.consumerreports.org/ health/doctors-and-hospitals/hospital-home.htm

AND the price check site for Minnesota Hospitals is at www. MNhospitalPriceCheck.org -- site is managed by the Minnesota Hospital Assn.