Georgia Insurance Claims Database Provides Health Care Cost Comparisons

Jan 21, 2026 —
Georgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a resource created by the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database. (iStock photo)

Georgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a resource created by the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database. (iStock photo)

Georgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a searchable “shop for care” resource launched as part of the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database (GA APCD).

The Georgia APCD Cost Comparison Tool (apcd.georgia.gov/cost-comparison-tool) contains information on more than 200 different medical procedures ranging from cardiac stress tests and childbirth to knee replacement and colonoscopies. The resource provides information on the median cost paid for the procedures statewide, along with information on what individual medical facilities and professional providers have been paid for each type of procedure. 

For each procedure, the tool identifies medical facility providers nearest to the consumer and includes facility ratings collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). For each facility providing a specific service, the comparison data includes the median cost for the procedure and the range of costs that were paid. Costs can be filtered by payer category, including commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid. While that data is understandably incomplete and includes caveats, developers of the new service say it provides a much-needed resource for Georgians facing a decision on a costly medical procedure.

“In health care, there are a lot of factors that can drive cost and it’s not always a straightforward equation, so it’s worth doing the research,” said Dr. Jon Duke, an M.D. and principal research scientist in the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s (GTRI) Health Emerging and Advanced Technologies Division, which administers the APCD for the state of Georgia. “This is really just one part of health care decision-making, and it will help patients be more proactive advocates for themselves when considering potential options for care.”

Dr. Duke is also a faculty member in Georgia Tech's Institute for People and Technology. You can read the full article published by the Georgia Tech Research Institute here.