Same Knee Surgery, Twice the Price: Hospital Monopolies Push Up Healthcare Costs

Hospital consolidation can drive major differences in healthcare costs, with patients and insurers paying more when competition is limited. A knee replacement covered by the same Blue Cross Blue Shield plan cost about $16,000 at one North Carolina hospital but roughly $40,000 at another just over an hour away.

More than 1,000 hospital mergers occurred nationwide from 2002 to 2020, and 46 additional hospital and health system mergers were announced last year.

Higher hospital prices can translate into higher insurance costs for employers and consumers, making healthcare consolidation an important public health and affordability issue. Read the full story from KFF Health News here.