Dive Brief:
- An analysis of economic performance for more than 40 healthcare markets nationwide from the Health Care Cost Institute found “stark differences” between markets within the same state.
- In addition, the report found price patterns are not consistent as the data show in some markets, prices diverge. For example, in Jacksonville, FL, outpatient prices are low while inpatient prices are high.
- HCCI also found markets with higher utilization of inpatient services generally had lower rates of premature death.
Dive Insight:
It should be noted the data found no statistical relationship between price and utilization indices.
That mentioned, the report mentions high price areas include Boulder, CO, El Paso, TX, Bridgeport, CT, Philadelphia and Denver. Low price areas include St. Louis, New Orleans, Louisville, KY, and Tucson, AZ.
“The Healthy Marketplace Index characterizes some of the attributes of healthcare marketplaces that influence not only health outcomes, but also public and private spending on health care,” says Katherine Hempstead, Director of Health Insurance Coverage at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “We hope the information is valuable to local stakeholders, such as consumers, employers and policymakers, who are trying to improve the healthcare delivered in their communities.”