1992 hospital charges for two major surgical procedures for cardiovascular diseases. Part II: Cardiac catheterization.

In-hospital cardiac catheterization (CC) charges among MetLife group health insureds and their dependents averaged $10,880 during 1992. Among the 24 states in which 50 or more CCs were performed, the average total charges ranged from a low of $6,400 in Maryland to a high of $17,600 in California. Not only were these California charges 2.75 times higher than the lowest ones, they were also 62 percent higher than the U.S. average. Illinois registered the second highest average total charges ($14,340) and Wisconsin reported the second lowest ($7,320). On average, the hospital portion of the CC charges accounted for 82 percent of the total, ranging from 86 percent of the total charges in California, Colorado and Alabama to 70 percent in New York and 71 percent in New Jersey. Ancillary fees accounted for 62 percent of the total hospital charges and averaged $5,530 across the country. Physician fees averaged $2,000 for a CC in 1992, with these charges being the highest in California ($2,550--28 percent above the U.S. average) and the lowest in South Carolina ($1,300--32 percent below the norm for the country). Length of stay averaged four days with very little variation evident between regions or states.