Other findings from HealthGrades study include:Over the three years studied, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the number of bariatric surgeries in the 19 states analyzed increased 16%.In 2006, less-invasive laparoscopic procedures represented 83.18% of all procedures, and by 2008 they represented 88.93% of all bariatric procedures. On average, laparoscopic procedures had a complication rate of 5.49%, while gastric bypass procedures had a complication rate of 11.64%, and malabsorptive procedures had a complication rate of 7.01%.Of the 19 states studied, 63.33% of all procedures were performed in five states: California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida.Overall, bariatric surgery patients were charged, on average, $38,254 for a laparoscopic procedure, while the average charge for an open procedure (e.g., gastric bypass or malabsorptive) was $38,323.Of all patients, 6.57% paid for their surgery out-of-pocket (self-pay) and did not utilize any type of insurance. There was a 5.42% decrease in the number of self-pay patients from 2006 through 2008.

Bariatric surgery is recognized as an effective treatment for obesity, especially in those patients noted to have extreme obesity, also referred to as "morbid obesity." Morbid obesity carries an extensive risk of life-threatening complications such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Morbid obesity affects approximately 4.7% of the U.S. population, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

MethodologyFor this study, HealthGrades analyzed 190,502 bariatric procedures performed in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. The states included in the study are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

To make accurate and valid comparisons of clinical outcomes at different hospitals with different patient characteristics, HealthGrades risk adjusted the data using multivariate logistic regression to account for age, gender and underlying medical conditions that could increase the patient's risk of mortality or complication. The full study and individual hospital ratings for bariatric surgery and other procedures can be found at www.healthgrades.

Individuals contemplating bariatric surgery will find both quality and cost information at www.healthgrades. In addition to the hospital-quality ratings, website visitors can also research surgeons who perform bariatric surgery as well as medical cost reports that detail all of the costs, including out-of-pocket expenses, for the procedure.

SOURCE Health Grades, Inc.