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procedures, OB procedures, robotic surgery procedures and medical and other surgical procedures. "Health care today can be confus - ing and complicated," says Crouse Chief Financial Officer Kelli Harris. "At Crouse, we try to make it as easy as possible to navigate the healthcare system, and that includes being transparent and informing our patients and our community about the cost of medical services we provide." Along with the estimated average price for the most commonly performed procedures or tests, the site also contains a list of frequently asked questions, as well as the total number of a particular procedure or test done at Crouse in the previous year. Other information provided online includes the average age of the patients who received the test or procedure, along with the average amount paid by Medicare, Medicaid and other patient insurances. A link to additional information about that particular procedure or test is also included. Prices listed on the website may vary based on pre-existing health conditions, severity of illness and the actual proce - dure performed. In addition, prices listed do not include physician fees, which are typically billed separately by individual providers and not the hospital. Examples include charges from a surgeon, anesthe - siologist or radiologist, says Harris, who encourages patients and consumers to contact their insurance provider to help determine what their actual out-of-pocket payments may be. "One of our Crouse values is open and honest communication," says Harris. "This is another step in sharing informa - tion about the payment process in health care." Harris adds that patients should also research the quality of care provided at a particular hospital, as that does not always correlate with pricing. Numerous online resources that con - tain information about hospital quality exist, but Harris recommends Hospital Compare, the official federal government site for Medicare. Hospital Compare is a consumer-oriented website that provides information on how well hospitals provide recommended care to their patients. Hospital Compare information can help consumers make informed decisions about healthcare options. The site allows consumers to select multiple hospitals and directly compare performance and mea - sure information related to heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgery and other conditions. Consumers are also en- couraged to visit the quality section of the Crouse website at crouse.org/quality. ■ HOME MEDICAL E Q U I P M E N T Providing people in the greater Oneida area with home medical equipment, such as: Crutches Wheelchairs Respiratory Care Services NEIDA Health Support Member of Franciscan Companies C I R C L E O F care ANOTHER SERVICE PROVIDED TO YOU WITHIN YOUR oneidahealthcare.org & R E S P I R A T O R Y C A R E S E R V I C E S Breast Pumps And Much More! Oneida Health Support maintains a team of Registered Respiratory Therapists and sleep disorder experts. (315) 280-6699 Call today to reach our highly trained customer service team! 2 2 | Central New York MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M