title: How Much Is That Head CT? Price Transparency and Variability in Radiology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To extend the investigation of price transparency and variability to medical imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen upper-tier academic hospitals identified by U.S. News & World Report and 14 of the 100 largest private radiology practices in the country identified by the Radiology Business Journal were contacted by telephone between December 2013 and February 2014 to determine the cash price for a noncontrast head CT. The price for a noncontrast head CT was chosen to assess price transparency in medical imaging because it represents a standard imaging examination with minimal differences in quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen upper-tier academic hospitals (78%) and 11 private practices (79%) were able to provide prices for a noncontrast head CT. There was no significant difference between the proportions of upper-tier academic hospitals and private practices that were able to provide prices for a noncontrast head CT (P = .96). The average total price for the upper-tier academic hospitals was $1,390.12 ± $686.13, with the price ranging from $391.62 to $2,015. The average total price for the private practices was $681.60 ± $563.58, with the total price ranging from $211 to $2,200.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prices for a noncontrast head CT study were readily available from the vast majority of upper-tier academic hospitals and private practices, although there was tremendous variation in the price estimates both within and between the upper-tier academic hospitals and private practices. Routine medical imaging thus appears to be more price transparent compared with other health care services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Aaron B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Rahmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oklu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: aprabhakar@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Anand M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D030881:Disclosure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011331:Private Practice / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011871:Radiology / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
keywords: Price transparency; medical imaging; noncontrast head CT