Variation in the Price of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Procedures

Health care costs can present a significant strain on patients with head and neck cancer. It remains unclear how much prices may vary among hospitals providing care and what factors lead to differences in prices of surgical procedures. A cross-sectional analysis of private payer-negotiated prices was performed for 10 commonly performed head and neck surgical oncology procedures. In total, 896 hospitals disclosed prices for at least 1 common head and neck surgical oncology procedure. Wide variation in negotiated surgical prices was identified. Across-center ratios ranged from 6.2 (partial glossectomy without primary closure) to 22.8 (excision of tongue lesion without closure). For-profit hospital ownership structure and geographic region outside of the northeast United States were associated with increased prices. For example, private payer-negotiated prices for direct laryngoscopy with biopsy were on average $2083 greater at for-profit hospitals when compared with nonprofit hospitals ($5215 vs $3132, P < .001). Further research comparing prices and outcomes is needed.