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Medicare billings now reported on federal Web site

By KEVIN FREKING
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON – To help Americans become smarter health care shoppers, Medicare this month started publishing a range of what it pays for 30 common procedures and report how frequently hospitals perform them.

The release of the information fits with the Bush administration’s strategy of moving more people into health savings accounts and high-deductible insurance policies. Such insurance policies require people to bear more of their initial medical expenses.

As more people buy such policies, the administration maintains, cost increases would slow because people would work harder to look for the best deal or decide they don’t really need a medical service after all.

The Medicare data – released June 1 – covers such procedures as heart operations, the implant of heart defibrillators and back and neck operations.

The most common elective surgery paid for by Medicare is the replacement of a hip or knee. The government information shows that those procedures cost an average of $11,761. Medicare paid between $9,992-$12,173, on average.

The Pueblo Chiefton