The cost of coronary bypass procedures

We reviewed the financial records of 200 succesive patients who had coronary artery bypass surgery in the first three months of 1976. The average hospital bill was $7,690 and the average length of stay was 18 days. The highest bill was $28,329 (79 days) and the lowest was $6,126 (11 days). The average total physician charge to the patient was $3,240. The total average hospital and physician cost was $10,930.