Whitman Hospital cuts rates for imaging, lab services

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center has announced reduced rates in the hospital’s Imaging and Laboratory departments.

“We would like to highlight our efforts to remain conservative compared to hospitals within Washington and nationwide,” said Laurie Gronning, WHMC’s Public Relations Specialist

Overall, WHMC has had a price increase of two percent for 2019 which is lower than other increases over recent years. In 2018, the increase was five percent, with a three percent increase for 2017.

Despite the overall increase there are two departments at the hospital that have seen significant decreases, the Laboratory and Imaging.

In the Laboratory, 233 of the 595 tests available had a price decrease, with the rest unchanged from their prices in 2018. Noteworthy are the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), the Complete Blood Count (CBC), and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP). Venipuncture, the procedure of puncturing a vein, has also dropped in price, going from $37.50 to $22.00.

Dropping from $170.50 to $68.95 is the CMP, a blood test that measures kidney and liver function, glucose level and electrolyte and fluid balance. Going down from $66.75 to $57.54 is the CBC which tests for overall health. BNP, a blood test to detect and evaluate heart failure, went from $271.50 to $138.00.

While most of the Imaging prices had the two percent increase, the MRIs had some exceptions. Of the 43 MRI charges 26 had price decreases, and six weren’t changed from 2018 prices. Some of the notable price changes include; MRI Lumbar Spine without contrast going from $2,630 down to $1,973, MRI Lower Extremity of any joint without contrast was at $2,189 and has dropped to $1,585 and MRI Upper Extremity without contrast for any joint went from $2,189 to $1585.

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center is one of two public hospital districts in Whitman County, the other being Pullman Regional district. Both hospitals are members of Washington State Hospital Association.