First few Article Sentences
In the face of a mounting health care affordability crisis, transparency in hospital pricing, representing about a third of the total healthcare dollars,1 has become a substantial concern among those who pay for and receive health care services across Washington state.
In a May 2024 analysis, which includes a large volume of data from self-insured employers in Washington state, we found hospitals ranging from 150 percent to nearly 700 percent of the price of Medicare. On average, Washington hospitals price levels are 288 percent of what Medicare pays.