You may have heard of patients leaving the country for lower cost medical treatment. Interestingly, now American patients are heading to the Pacific Northwest for some procedures as well.

Pacific Surgical Center in Longview is part of a growing trend within “medical tourism” of staying within the United States, but travelling to another state for less costly surgeries. One patient travelled from Nebraska for a surgery, and saved $13,000 by having it in Longview versus one near her home.

Although rare now, such travel for surgery may become more commonplace as payers of medical care, including some large corporations, find ways to save money. For now, it looks like at least Pacific Surgical Center is an early beneficiary.

[To save on surgery, out-of-state patients travel to Washington’s Longview](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/longview-surgery/)