Cardiac catheterizations: regional variations in average hospital charges

The number of cardiac catheterizations performed in the United States increased from 299,000 in 1979 to over 900,000 in 1988. Analyses of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company claims experience for 2,788 in-hospital, diagnostic cardiac catheterizations during 1988 revealed an average total charge of $4,820 and a length of stay of 2.8 days. Substantial geographic variation in charges existed, with California reporting the highest average charge ($7,990) and Wisconsin the lowest ($3,210). As the technology, professional experience and patient outcomes improve, the proportion of uncomplicated cardiac catheterizations being performed on an outpatient basis is also increasing. This development should result in major decreases in some of the costs associated with the diagnosis of heart disease.