Medical prices vary widely

A mammogram can cost anywhere from $86 to $954 in the L.A. metropolitan area, a study finds.

The price of routine medical procedures can vary wildly from state to state, and even within metropolitan areas, according to a new study.

In the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which includes Orange and Riverside counties, the price paid for a mammogram can range from $86 to $954.

That means that on average, women in the L.A. area pay about $237 for a mammogram, making L.A. the 19th most expensive city of the 30 surveyed by Castlight Health Inc., a San Francisco-based healthcare information company.

The second annual study looked at the price of common health screenings, including routine primary care exams and cholesterol tests, and this year added the price of four women’s health procedures.

According to the study, L.A. is the sixth most expensive city for OB-GYN follow-up visits: The cost ranged from $64 to $121 with an average of $85.

The city also ranks 28th for the average cost of preventive gynecological exams for women ages 18 to 39. L.A.’s average cost of $121 was almost half that of San Francisco, which was the priciest in the nation for a preventive gynecological exam and an HPV test.

Los Angeles ranks 10th for the most expensive HPV test price, with a price range of $32 to $417.

“Despite mandated insurance coverage for certain services, it’s possible women might forgo basic preventive care due to cost considerations,” Kristin Torres Mowat, a Castlight Health vice president, said in a statement. “Overall, the data demonstrates that medical prices continue to reflect larger systemic problems in the U.S. healthcare system.”

The primary source for this study was medical claims data, in addition to provider information and rate sheets that listed the negotiated price between a provider and insurer. Prices are defined as the employee cost-sharing plus the amount paid by the employer.