MYNORTHWEST NEWS

How much would you pay? Everett Clinic among first to post all prices online

Nov 3, 2014, 5:42 AM | Updated: 5:42 am

The Everett Clinic is the first large medical group in the state to post the prices for all of its ...

The Everett Clinic is the first large medical group in the state to post the prices for all of its most common services and procedures online. (Everett Clinic photo)

(Everett Clinic photo)

You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing the actual price, so why should you have surgery or receive other medical care without a clue about how much it’ll cost?

Snohomish County’s Everett Clinic is aiming to change that, becoming the first large health care system in the state and among the first nationwide to list all of its prices online and at its clinics.

On Saturday, the physicians group of 500 providers at nine locations throughout the county posted prices for all of its most common services. It’s the completion of an effort that began in May when it first listed prices for imaging services and began adding others throughout the year.

“Health care costs are too high and patients can’t make wise decisions without transparency of prices,” says Rick Cooper, Everett Clinic CEO.

Knowing the prices will allow patients to work with their healthcare provider to determine their best medical options, says Cooper.

“Medical services costs can vary greatly among providers in the same geographic region. In many situations, the quality of care and outcomes are unrelated to costs, meaning patients may be paying more but not necessarily receiving better care,” he says.

Along with working to improve transparency, the Everett Clinic is also leading the effort to provide easily accessed information about quality, much like Yelp.

“It makes perfect sense in health care and for far too long there hasn’t been that transparency,” he says.

The price list only applies to services for those not covered by insurance paid directly by patients. Pricing for insurance carriers is negotiated separately between the Everett Clinic and insurance companies. Those prices are provided by individual carriers and can vary widely depending on level of coverage.

“Our hope is that others in health care will join us in our commitment to transparency,” says Cooper.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: Lewis and Clark High School students thought quickly to save their track coach's life....

Julia Dallas

Spokane high school students save track coach’s life after his heart stops

Two Spokane high school students used their quick thinking and past training to save their track coach's life last week.

20 minutes ago

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

12 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

14 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

15 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

15 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

16 hours ago

How much would you pay? Everett Clinic among first to post all prices online