Angioplasty costs are higher at non-surgery hospitals

Angioplasty to clear blocked arteries costs more at hospitals not equipped for emergency heart surgery, according to a study presented on Sunday at the American Heart Association scientific meeting. Elective angioplasty is becoming increasingly common at hospitals that do not conduct more complicated heart procedures. Researchers from Duke University Medical School in North Carolina analyzed billing data from more than 18,000 patients and found that the average cumulative medical costs were $23,991 in surgery-equipped hospitals, versus $25,460 in those without surgical centers.