Access to cochlear implantation can be restricted by financial burden, and little is known about the extent to which cochlear implant (CI) devices prices may vary between hospitals or manufacturers. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of private payer-negotiated prices for CI devices. In total, 161 hospitals were analyzed. Prices varied widely across hospitals and between payers. Despite clinical equipoise between manufacturers with regards to CI user outcomes, significant differences in prices were identified, with higher prices for MED-EL ($38,478 ± 2633) than for Cochlear Ltd. ($34,150 ± 2418, p < .001). Markup analysis for Cochlear Ltd. devices revealed a mean 58.5% ± 7.4% markup in excess of the company's average sales price ($24,649). Negotiated prices were also at least $5000 lower when all 3 brands were offered at the same center (p < .05). Further research examining the influence of patient outcomes and hospital volume on prices are needed.
Keywords: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; cochlear implant; hospital reimbursement; medical devices; payer-negotiated price; price transparency.
© 2023 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.