Price Transparency
Price Transparency is the federally mandated program stating all hospitals must publish their Chargemaster for services/items provided. In compliance with the mandate, Lake Charles Memorial Health System is providing access to the downloadable Chargemaster in 3 parts. The first part will include the standard Chargemaster. The second part will include the Chargemaster for pharmacy. And, the last part will include the average billed charge for the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG).
As a patient, it is extremely important to understand that the billed charges are only a small part of the equation when estimating the cost of your hospital experience. Other factors that may affect your hospital responsibility are deductible, out-of-pocket maximums, co-pays, provider network, etc. Most hospital encounters will have multiple Chargemaster items for services received based on your physician’s orders and/or documentation. This adds another level of complexity when trying to calculate the possible cost of your healthcare.
Additionally, the charges accessible below do not include any charges for physician services or other professional fees such as emergency room physicians, radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists, etc. These fees are billed separately from the hospital.
If You Have Commercial Insurance:
- Contact your insurance company to understand all of the factors affecting your financial responsibility.
- Numerous factors, such as type of plan, co-pay, co-insurance, deductible, out-of-pocket maximums, provider network and other limitations, will affect your financial responsibility to the hospital.
- The prices reflected on this site do not include charges for the physician or other professional fees such as radiologist, pathologist, anesthesiologist and emergency room physicians.
- The prices reflected on this site do not include any negotiated discounts between your insurance company and the hospital.
If You Have Medicare:
Medicare has many different parts, and not everyone has the same type of Medicare coverage. Medicare will pay for many of your healthcare expenses but not all of them.
- Special rules apply if you have employer group health insurance coverage through your job or a spouse’s job.
- If you have a supplemental health insurance policy, it may cover some costs that Medicare does not cover.
- The best way to be sure of what your Medicare plan covers is to call (800) MEDICARE, or visit www.mymedicare.gov.
If You Have Medicaid:
- Contact your local Medicaid office at (888) 544-7996, or visit the Louisiana Department of Health to determine all the factors affecting your financial responsibility.
If You Are Uninsured:
- For more information about the payment policy of Lake Charles Memorial Health System please call (337) 494-3224.
- As required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), hospitals have a written financial assistance policy that includes eligibility criteria, the basis for calculating charges and the method for applying for financial assistance.
- For information about the Financial Assistance Program of Lake Charles Memorial Health System click here.
To view the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Standard Chargemaster click here.
To view the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Pharmacy Chargemaster click here.
To view the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital DRG Rates click here.
