How Much Does Open Exclusion of Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Cost?
This open heart surgical procedure involves excluding the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small pouch in the heart's upper left chamber, using any surgical method. It is performed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation by preventing blood clot formation in…
π‘ The doctor's Medicare fee is $994 β that's what the physician receives. Hospital/facility charges are separate.
What does Open LAA Exclusion cost where you live?
Prices vary by location. Pick your city to see local hospital prices.
Why do some cities cost 3β4Γ more than others?
Most of the difference is hospital pricing, not the medicine. The procedure itself is essentially the same everywhere β what changes is what the facility charges:
- Hospitals set their own prices. There's no national price for a procedure, so two hospitals β even in the same city β can charge wildly different amounts for identical care.
- Local costs differ. Wages, rent, and malpractice insurance are far higher in big metros (e.g. San Francisco, New York) than in smaller cities. Medicare adjusts the doctor's fee for this, but only modestly; hospital charges swing much more.
- Competition matters. In areas with few hospitals or one dominant health system, prices tend to run higher. Competitive markets push them down.
- Insurer contracts vary by region, which moves both the negotiated and cash prices.
π‘ Because the difference is mostly pricing power β not quality β it's worth comparing hospitals and asking for the cash/self-pay rate, which is often far below the list price.
Hospitals in
| Hospital | Median price | Range |
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Prices from the Hospital Price Transparency Act. Median = middle price across insurers at that hospital.
Common Questions
How much does Open LAA Exclusion cost?
Does Medicare cover Open LAA Exclusion?
How much does it cost without insurance?
Why is the price so different between hospitals?
Why does Open LAA Exclusion cost so much more in some cities than others?
What should I ask before scheduling?
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