Sources we use
We rely on primary sources: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Physician Fee Schedule, hospital outpatient and clinical laboratory fee schedules, price transparency and No Surprises Act rules), state Medicaid dental fee schedules, fee lists published by dental schools, HRSA, the IRS, the CFPB, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the ADA Health Policy Institute, peer-reviewed journals and research organizations such as RAND and KFF. We do not use provider marketing, lenders, discount-plan sellers, forums or social media as sources of fact.
How calculators are checked
Every calculator uses published, standard formulas. The code is covered by automated tests that check known answers (for example, the Medicare payment for a service equals its work, practice-expense and malpractice relative value units, each multiplied by the local geographic index, times the conversion factor, and a $6,000 bill on a 12-month interest-free plan is $500 a month). We show the formula next to each tool so anyone can verify the result by hand.
What we will not publish
- Affiliate links, financing offers, discount-plan sign-ups or paid placements for any provider.
- Advice on whether you need a test or treatment, or which clinician to choose.
- Claims we cannot support with a source.
Updates and corrections
Each page shows the date it was last updated. Medicare publishes new fee schedules every year (final rules in November, effective January 1), and states and dental schools update their fee lists on their own calendars. When a source changes, we update the data, the tests and the page date. If you find an error, tell us through the contact page and we will review it and correct it.