The New York City Health Department's inaugural report highlights alarming inconsistencies in hospital pricing for employee healthcare. Despite covering a vast range of providers through Anthem Blue Cross, crucial data remains inaccessible because Anthem refuses to release comprehensive pricing, citing confidentiality agreements. The report reveals significant spending by the city on hospital care, with costs varying dramatically between institutions. This inconsistency underscores a pressing need for transparency in healthcare costs, especially as the city transitions to spending more on outpatient care compared to inpatient services.
The city's GHI-Comprehensive Benefits Plan through Anthem paid on average $45,150 for inpatient services last fiscal year at New York's top 10 hospital systems.
The report noted the city spent $3.3 billion paying for employee hospital care during the fiscal year ending June 30, and half went to three hospital systems.
Prices at hospital systems ranged widely, from $940 to $12,000 for a colonoscopy, and $7,000 to $58,000 for a cesarean-section delivery.
Anthem claimed releasing some of the pricing data would violate confidentiality agreements it has with hospitals that predate a 2021 federal rule requiring hospitals to disclose their prices.
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