The cost of an operation can vary by up to 100% between hospitals

On the subject of costs, I’m a bit confused on the matter of coding. I learned earlier today that while I was paying for a large percentage of the bill for tests ordered by my PCP at routine physicals (nothing unusual, just the typical blood workup), some co-workers on the same plan weren’t being charged at all. The plan administrator said it was because different physicians “code” the same procedures differently, and that determines how the insurer handles the bill. Huh? You mean I have to ask my doctor if he’ll “code” a test so that my insurance will cover it?