US Health Care Costs

Dehydration and electrolyte problems, with major complications in Iowa

MS-DRG 640: Miscellaneous disorders of nutrition, metabolism, fluids and electrolytes with mcc

$31,222typical hospital bill
$9,999typical amount paid
$8,348–$15,041range paid across 18 hospitals

Iowa hospitals billed Medicare a typical $31,222 for this stay in 2024, about 3.1 times what was actually paid. Medicare's payment depends mostly on the hospital's location and teaching role; the bill depends on the hospital's own price list, so bills vary far more than payments.

Billed (list price)Actually paid (Medicare + patient)

HospitalCityMedicare staysBilledPaid
Mary Greeley Medical CenterAmes15$18,404$8,348
Finley HospitalDubuque19$23,129$8,706
Mercyone Dubuque Medical CenterDubuque34$28,270$9,104
Methodist Jennie EdmundsonCouncil Bluffs21$28,258$9,131
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids19$32,615$9,465
St Lukes HospitalCedar Rapids30$31,296$9,595
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center DownIowa City12$58,540$9,716
Mercyone Siouxland Medical CenterSioux City12$31,700$9,890
St Lukes Regional Medical CenterSioux City31$29,203$9,968
Chi Health Mercy Council BluffsCouncil Bluffs19$44,695$10,031
Trinity Regional Medical CenterFort Dodge15$27,964$10,064
Allen HospitalWaterloo22$19,244$10,121
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist MediDes Moines88$52,843$10,164
Genesis Medical Center-DavenportDavenport35$34,074$10,228
Mercyone North Iowa Medical CenterMason City28$31,147$10,532
Mercyone Des Moines Medical CenterDes Moines56$64,552$10,829
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical CenterWest Burlington31$26,499$10,969
University of Iowa Hospital & ClinicsIowa City49$77,101$15,041

Medicare: CMS, 2024 (hospitals with 11 or more Medicare stays). Cash and insurer prices: hospitals' own price files, where read; insurer figures are commercial plans only, median and 10th–90th percentile across plans.