Managing your health care costs - options for lower cost settings

Health Care CostsOPTIONS FOR LOWER COST SET TINGS As a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield or CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. (CareFirst) member, how you use your benefits can reduce your health care costs. Use the information below to make smart choices to help you keep more of your money. Additional resources can be found by visiting www.carefirst.com/members and clicking on Managing Care Costs in the Financial Resources section.
National Laboratories
Many routine laboratory tests can cost up to six times more when performed in
an outpatient hospital lab setting. You can play a role in minimizing your costs by
seeking care from CareFirst participating national laboratories.
What’s the cost difference between national freestanding laboratories and
hospital-based laboratories?
LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics are the national laboratories for CareFirst and are
both cost-effective choices. You can easily schedule appointments online through
LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics websites.
Diagnostic Test
Outpatient
National
Potential
Hospital
(Freestanding)
Laboratory
Not risk adjusted for medical severity. Based on average cost for 2009 CareFirst members. Represents a sample of the most frequently performed tests. Note: The doctors and other medical providers are independent providers making their own medical determinations and are not employed by either CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield or CareFirst BlueChoice. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the shared business name of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. are both independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
® Registered trademark of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®’ Registered trademark of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc.
• LabCorp: https://www.labcorp.com/wps/portal/
(Note: LabCorp is the only network national lab that BlueChoice (HMO) members can use.) • Quest Diagnostics: www.questdiagnostics.com
Outpatient and Freestanding Facilities
Radiology Centers
The costs of common radiology procedures vary widely between outpatient hospital
and CareFirst-contracted freestanding radiology centers.
Radiology
Diagnostic Test
Outpatient
Potential
Hospital
(Freestanding)
w/o DyeNot risk adjusted for medical severity. Based on average cost for 2009 CareFirst members. Represents a sample of the most frequently performed tests. Ambulatory Surgery Centers
An Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) is a health care facility that specializes in providing
surgery and diagnostic services in an outpatient setting.
CareFirst offers a wide range of accredited Ambulatory Surgery Centers that are appropriate in various situations.
Ambulatory
Diagnostic Test
Outpatient
Potential
Hospital
Not risk adjusted for medical severity. Based on average cost for 2009 CareFirst members. Represents a sample of the most frequently performed tests. Medication Choices
Understanding when to use generic drugs may save you 20%-80% on your prescription
costs.
Drug Brand
Avg. Brand Avg. Generic
Drug Generic Name
Cost 30 Days Cost 30 Days
Difference
*This list represents the most requested prescription drugs and their average costs in 2010. Researching your prescription costs may help you plan your medical spending. We have detailed information on the cost differences between brand name and generic drugs, facts about generic drugs, and what we are doing as an insurance company to reduce prescription costs for you. Visit www.carefirst.com/rx and click on Drug Information in the Health Information
section for tips on how to manage your prescription drug costs.

Source: https://webapp.carefirst.com/wcmwps/wcm/connect/29276f8040321bda9f27dfcd7493e3c4/pcmh-managing-health-care-costs.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=29276f8040321bda9f27dfcd7493e3c4