By Paul Monies
Oklahoma Watch 

Hospitals post prices for first time, but patients are unlikely to gain insight

 

January 17, 2019

Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch

An empty hospital bed is seen at Pauls Valley Regional Medical Center on Oct. 3, 2018. The out patient care wing was closed after too many nurses quit their jobs at the hospital due to the recent budget crisis, according to CEO Frank Avignone.

As of Jan. 1, hospitals have been required to post their prices. But the information is often difficult to understand, and hospitals say it doesn't reflect what patients pay.

For the first time ever, many Oklahoma hospitals are posting their prices online for every service or item they offer, creating a consumer menu.

But a closer look at these price lists shows that they are unlikely to help patients comparison-shop with ease or figure out complicated medical bills.

A check of websites for some of the largest hospital systems in the state showed the price lists are hard to find and are usu...



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