The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) offers some great tips for consumers that are interested in comparison shopping for non-emergency hospital services.    The consumer tips provided by the CHCF are based on the results of a recent mystery shopper study conducted at 64 California hospitals.  Here are some of the highlights, but be sure to visit their site to read all the tips. Most important, be sure to ask the right questions before using hospital services.

1.     Call first.  Consumers should call a hospital to obtain pricing information, rather than wait to ask for pricing in-person.

2.     Know the CPT or ICD-9 code.  This is the specific American Medical Association (AMA) code assigned to each medical procedure or service and is used for billing purposes.  It’s actually a lot like a specific part-number for an electronics you purchase.   When you know the specific code (part number), you can compare apples-to-apples.  Once your doctor has explained the service or procedure you need, ask your doctor for the CPT code.  It will save you time and money.

3.     Ask about a discount.  If you don’t ask, it almost certainly won’t be offered.  Find out how much and under what conditions discounts apply.  You might find that paying by cash or using your credit card entitles you to discount.

4.     Find out what’s included.  There’s little consistency among hospitals in terms of the type of prices quoted, making applies-to-applies comparisons difficult.  You should ask as many questions as necessary until you are comfortable with the information about what specific services are included.  If you are not getting the answers you need, ask to talk to someone in Admitting, Financial Counseling, Billing or the Cashier’s Office.