New data: Colorado hospital charges rise

Hospital charges for nine of the top 10 most common ailments increased in Colorado from 2011 to 2012, according to data released this week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Treatment for gastrointestinal and digestive disorders, saw the largest jump in cost, up 14 percent from $21,864 in 2011 to $24,950 in 2012. Meanwhile, Medicare paid only $3,893 of that cost to providers on average.

Including deductibles and co-payments made by the Medicare beneficiary and any other third-party payment, the average total payment for such a procedure to the hospital in 2012 was $5,030, according to CMS.

Increased costs could…