How area hospitals handle price transparency

Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids

• Adopted price transparency as policy in 2007.
• Only hospital whose site had identifiable link to prices; site also links to Iowa Hospital Association cost-comparison tool.
• Provides financial counselors at (319) 398-6854 or (319) 221-8960.
• Works to identify and reach out to patients who might need financial help but might not ask for it.
• Volunteers counsel Medicare patients about Iowa's Senior Health Insurance Information Program.
• Commissioned development of a “patient portal” for rollout this fall to help patients be more engaged, informed, empowered and satisfied.
• Encourages potential patients to check with insurance carriers about coverage.
• Web: http://www.mercycare.org

St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids

• Recommends potential patients call (319) 369-7513 to talk to counselors 24/7 about cost estimates.
• Helps uninsured or underinsured patients determine whether they qualify for discounts.
• Website links to the Iowa Hospital Association cost-comparison tool, but says the information through IHA “is not as current as having a personal conversation with a financial counselor.”
• Pre-Surgical Testing Department works with patients to confirm coverage and identify anticipated out-of-pocket expenses.
• Distributes Healthbeat magazine to 50,000 area consumers to share ways to obtain cost information.
• Publishes Annual Report to the Community in The Gazette and posts the information on St. Luke's website. Articles have included “St. Luke's Priceline” and “Taking the guesswork out of hospital charges.”
• Provides information online about hospital billing and financial counselors at www.stlukescr.org/about-us/billing-questions/; lists estimated costs for common procedures.
• Web: http://www.stlukescr.org/

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City

• Cost transparency is based on individual patients; general cost information not made available.
• Encourages patients to contact the financial counseling staff at (319) 384-6275 for details.
• Estimates treatment costs; verifies insurance coverage; determines patient liability; screens for financial aid; establishes budget payments; determines eligibility for Uncompensated Care Program; assists with the application.
• Web: www.uihealthcare.org

Mercy Iowa City

• Encourages consumers to contact Mercy On Call, (319) 358-2767, to ask about charges.
• Website links to the Iowa Hospital Association's online cost-comparison tool.
• Web: www.mercyic.org