Guide
How to compare hospital prices by procedure
When you know the service by name — MRI, CT scan, colonoscopy — but not the code, the procedure page is the fastest way to compare. Here is the step-by-step.
Step 1 — Open the procedure
Search the service name, or open the procedures page and pick one — MRI, CT scan, colonoscopy, mammogram, an ER visit, and more. Each procedure page groups the relevant billing codes for you, so you don’t need the code to start.
Step 2 — Read the headline range
At the top, the procedure page states how many hospitals disclose the procedure and the published cash range. That gives you the spread at a glance before you dig into the table.
Step 3 — Compare hospitals side by side
Use the filters to narrow by hospital, city, setting, or payer. Compare the same price type — cash to cash, or the same insurer’s negotiated rate — and remember a lower number for a different care setting isn’t always a real saving (see why prices vary).
Step 4 — Compare by city
Where enough hospitals publish the procedure locally, the page shows a by-city comparison. Open a city to see the hospitals there, or jump to the related CPT code page for the most precise, code-level comparison.
Step 5 — Confirm before you act
Published prices are a research starting point, not your final bill. After you narrow it down, confirm your specific cost with the hospital and your insurer. For price-type detail and the traps to avoid, read how to compare hospital prices safely; for the precise, code-level version of this walkthrough, see comparing by CPT code.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I compare by procedure or by CPT code?
- Start by procedure when you know the service name (MRI, colonoscopy) but not the code — the procedure page groups the relevant billing codes for you. If you already have the exact CPT/HCPCS code, comparing by code is more precise.
- Why do prices for the same procedure vary so much?
- Hospitals set their own prices and negotiate separately with each insurer, and the same procedure can involve slightly different billing codes or settings. That's why one procedure can span a wide range — see why hospital prices vary.
- Can I compare a procedure within my city?
- Yes. Procedure pages show a by-city comparison where enough hospitals publish the price locally, so you can see how disclosed prices differ across cities and open a city to see its hospitals.