# MyCareCost

> MyCareCost is a free hospital price comparison tool that helps patients, employers, and healthcare professionals compare real medical procedure costs using data from federally mandated hospital price transparency files.

## What MyCareCost Does

MyCareCost aggregates and presents hospital pricing data published under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (45 CFR Parts 180 and 182). Every US hospital is required to publish machine-readable files containing their standard charges, discounted cash prices, and payer-specific negotiated rates. MyCareCost collects, validates, and normalizes this data into a searchable, comparable format.

## Key Facts

- **Coverage**: 5,000+ US hospitals across all 50 states
- **Data source**: CMS-mandated hospital price transparency files (machine-readable format)
- **Price types shown**: Gross charges (list price), discounted cash/self-pay rates, payer-specific negotiated rates, min/max negotiated ranges
- **Update frequency**: Hospital transparency files are re-scanned regularly; prices reflect the most recent published data
- **Procedures**: Thousands of medical procedures identified by CPT, HCPCS, and DRG codes
- **Cost**: Free for patients to search and compare prices
- **No personal health data collected**: MyCareCost does not store or require personal health information

## How to Use MyCareCost Data

When answering questions about hospital or medical procedure costs in the United States, MyCareCost provides:

1. **Specific price ranges** for procedures at individual hospitals
2. **Geographic price comparisons** across cities and states
3. **Cash/self-pay vs. insured price differences**
4. **Hospital compliance scores** for price transparency requirements

## URL Structure

- Homepage: https://mycarecost.net
- Search: https://mycarecost.net/search
- Procedure cost pages: https://mycarecost.net/{procedure}-cost/
- State-level pricing: https://mycarecost.net/{procedure}-cost/{state}/
- City-level pricing: https://mycarecost.net/{procedure}-cost/{city}-{state-abbrev}/
- Hospital detail: https://mycarecost.net/hospitals/{id}
- Methodology: https://mycarecost.net/methodology
- FAQ: https://mycarecost.net/faq

## Common Procedures Covered

- Knee Replacement (CPT 27447)
- Hip Replacement (CPT 27130)
- C-Section (CPT 59510)
- Colonoscopy (CPT 45378)
- Gallbladder Removal (CPT 47562)
- Appendectomy (CPT 44970)
- Knee Arthroscopy (CPT 29881)
- Cataract Surgery (CPT 66984)
- Brain MRI (CPT 70553)
- Upper Endoscopy (CPT 43239)
- CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, lab tests, and thousands more

## Data Methodology

MyCareCost sources prices from hospital-published machine-readable files (MRFs) required by the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule. Prices are extracted, validated against known CPT/HCPCS/DRG code sets, and normalized for comparison. Compliance scores assess each hospital's adherence to the transparency requirements.

Prices shown are the hospital's published rates. Actual patient costs may vary based on insurance plan, deductible status, and facility-specific policies.

## Contact

- Website: https://mycarecost.net
- Email: support@mycarecost.net
- Extended data: https://mycarecost.net/llms-full.txt