In a story posted this morning in D Healthcare Daily, W. Stephen Love, president CEO of the DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC), discussed numbers released this week in a survey by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. DFW hospitals, the GAO found, charged the second most in the country for hip replacement procedures, 23rd in coronary stents and 34th for appendectomies. In terms of what hospitals charged, Dallas-Fort Worth ranked consistently near the top.

A healthcare financial officer for decades prior to his tenure at DFWHC, Love said he finds the numbers confusing and details why in the article.

Love adds, “Some global comments about Dallas and North Texas are we have some of the highest uninsured rates in the nation and unfortunately cost shifting occurs which will increase the spending of private health insurance. We frequently remind people of the “hidden tax” affecting employer-based insurance plans where employees pay additional premiums to help cover the cost of treating the uninsured, especially in emergency rooms. Additionally, some geographic areas have a higher concentration of services like burn centers, trauma units and teaching and research hospitals which will also impact the cost in a region.”

The full story, penned by Matt Goodman, can be found here.