Houston hospital prices vary at a significant price for consumers, Rice Baker Institute report says

A recent report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy reveals significant discrepancies in federally mandated price reporting among Houston hospitals, resulting in notable variations in pricing for the same services offered to consumers.

Since 2021, hospitals have been required by federal law to furnish clear and accessible pricing information online for the items and services they offer. However, the report from Patient Rights Advocates (PRA) indicates that only 37% of hospitals in Texas are fully compliant with this regulation, leading to considerable disparities in prices, with some hospitals exhibiting up to a 32-fold difference in pricing for similar services within the same state.

The report specifically calls out the HCA hospital system for non-compliance, noting a lack of pricing information available online for certain procedures. Despite attempts to reach out to HCA for comment, there has been no response from the organization.

The study conducted by the Rice Baker Institute compared pricing across four major hospital systems in Houston, revealing that Houston Methodist often has some of the highest prices, both with and without insurance coverage.

In response to inquiries, a spokesperson from Houston Methodist provided ABC13 with the following statement:

“The study’s focus is narrow, centered on negotiated rates published by two insurance companies, and does not offer a comprehensive overview. As noted, Houston Methodist consistently receives Medicare’s highest five-star rating across all its hospitals, reflecting excellence in various metrics including mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care. This limited report fails to capture the overall value of care we deliver to our patients.”