KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Federal officials have released new data comparing what hospitals charge you for surgery, and there are stark differences in what you pay depending on where you go.

For instance, if you have hip replacement surgery at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, a patient without health insurance will be charged $59,928 while a patient who has the exact same surgery at Olathe Medical Center would be charged nearly half that amount at $29,430.

CMS.gov offered an explanation.

“As part of the Obama administration’s work to make our health care system more affordable and accountable, data are being released that show significant variation across the country and within communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City region has a rich history of outstanding high school debate. And Wednesday evening the stars of the Kansas City Urban Debate League got awards for their terrific work this school year. Two of the students getting awards Wednesday are writing an exciting new chapter in that rich history. That’s why we are saluting them as this week’s Fox 4 Young Achievers.

They both started it in middle school, but for different reasons. Corey Fisher needed some extra credit to prop up his grades so he could stay in sports. For Jared Freemon, it was peer pressure — the good kind. All of his friends were doing it. And it didn’t take very long for debate to become their passion.

“I’ve always been very competitive,” says Corey. “I hate losing. I love proving myself and proving that I’m right. So debate just kind of became the perfect form for me to do that.”

BALTIMORE — Things fell apart in the fifth inning for the Kansas City Royals, and the Baltimore Orioles held on for a 5-3 win on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.

The Royals (17-13, 7-8 away) have now lost three straight. It’s their longest losing streak of the season thus far, and the first time they’ve lost a series since April 13th.

It was a tight contest early, as Alex Gordon crushed his fifth home run of the year to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth. J.J. Hardy gave the Orioles (21-13, 9-5 home) a 2-0 lead with a two-run HR in the second.

It was later in the fifth that the wheels fell off, as Nate McLouth scored on a throwing error by George Kattaras to make it 4-1. Manny Machado advanced to third on Alcides Escobar’s throwing error, before scoring on a wild pitch by Luis Mendoza.