Average charges for cholecystectomies in the United States, 1996

During 1996 average total charge for an in-hospital laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was $13,940 and $15,380 for an open cholecystectomy (OC). Per diem charges averaged $4,130 for the LCs and $2,510 for the OCs. Among the 18 study states, Florida, Illinois and California each had total in-hospital LC charges more than 20 percent above the average, whereas North Carolina and Ohio reported charges 26 and 20 percent lower. Average length of stay for an LC was 3.37 days and ranged from 4.14 days in Tennessee to 2.51 days in Connecticut. The hospital portion of the total charge averaged 70 percent but ranged from 52 percent in New York to 78 percent in Arizona. The doctors' charges in New York and New Jersey were 39 and 26 percent, respectively, higher than the U.S. average of $4,120. Those in Michigan and Arizona were 29 and 20 percent, respectively, below the norm. The hospital and physician total charge for an OC was the highest in Florida and California, 40 percent above the U.S. average, and lowest in Tennessee, Missouri and Virginia, 32 to 24 percent below. The hospital stay for an open cholecystectomy averaged 6.12 days but varied from 8.71 days in New York to 4.84 days in Arizona. Per diem charge was $2,510 and ranged from $3,890 in California (55 percent above the average) to $1,620 in Tennessee (35 percent below). The hospital charges accounted for 76 percent of the total and ranged from 80 percent in Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona to 66 percent in New Jersey. The physicians' charges averaged $3,750 but were $5,410 in New Jersey, $5,370 in New York vs. $2,720 in Missouri. In contrast, the average professional charge for an LC performed in an outpatient setting was $1,480. This total varied by 31 percent and was the highest in the Middle Atlantic area. The Pacific area reported the lowest regional charge ($1,250), 16 percent below the norm. Among the 16 states with 20 or more outpatient LCs, the average ambulatory LC charge was the highest in New York and Ohio and lowest in Kentucky and Kansas.