The average patient in California's Sacramento Valley pays $152 out-of-pocket for a C-section. Meanwhile, the average patient in California's Monterey Coast area is unknowingly paying $3,000 out-of-pocket for the same procedure, according to an analysis of claims data from more than 10 million California patients.
This analysis, performed by Consumer Reports, the University of California, San Francisco and the California Department of Insurance, fuels a new tool called California Healthcare Compare that aims to help patients shop around for their healthcare.
Here are three things to know about Consumer Reports' new database.
1. California Healthcare Compare is a searchable online database that houses payment information on more than 100 medical conditions and procedures, including childbirth, knee replacement, back pain, diabetes care and colon cancer screening.
2. The database also shows the quality of care provided, broken down by hospital or physician group within the state of California.
3. The data analysis shows costs of care range wildly in the state of California, based more on geographical location, rather than quality of care provided. Some of the highest costs are found along the coast, starting mid-state and going south to West Los Angeles County.
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