HERSHEY, Pa. — As part of its continuing commitment to price transparency and helping consumers make informed health care choices, Penn State Health is now providing access to a secure, online pricing tool.
The tool allows individuals to select from a list of common medical procedures and submit information about their insurance, then estimates the individual’s out-of-pocket financial responsibility.
“We want to provide as much information as possible regarding what people can expect to pay for a particular procedure,” said Alan Brechbill, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Penn State Health. “We encourage them to use data about cost and quality to make important decisions regarding where to receive care.”
When the tool went online in July, it included approximately 50 of the most common medical procedures – with new ones regularly being added to the system.
The online pricing tool can be found on the following sites:
- Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Penn State Health St. Joseph
- Penn State Cancer Institute
- Penn State Children’s Hospital
The tool provides the estimated cost for technical aspects of medical procedures. Patients can learn the out-of-pocket fees for professional services from a financial navigator.
Financial navigators are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 1-888-835-5850. In addition to cost estimates, the navigators can also help patients explore financial assistance options when needed.