1992 hospital charges for two major surgical procedures for cardiovascular diseases. Part I: Coronary artery bypass grafts.

During 1992, charges for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries among MetLife group health insureds and dependents averaged $44,200. Among the 21 states with 20 or more CABGs, the average charges ranged from a high of $61,990 in California to a low of $34,290 in Ohio. Three-fourths of the total charges billed to MetLife were due to the hospital bill, with fairly wide variation between states. Hospital charges in New York accounted for 62 percent of the total bill whereas those in neighboring Pennsylvania averaged 80 percent of the bill for a CABG. Physician charges averaged $11,260 across the country and ranged from a high of $16,620 in Connecticut to a low of $8,850 in Oregon. Hospital stay averaged nine days, with confinement ranging from seven to 12 days. Room and board charges accounted for 31 percent of the hospital bill and averaged $10,170 across the country.