US Health Care Costs

Heart attack, with complications in Iowa

MS-DRG 281: Acute myocardial infarction, discharged alive with cc

$29,271typical hospital bill
$6,685typical amount paid
$6,010–$11,113range paid across 15 hospitals

Iowa hospitals billed Medicare a typical $29,271 for this stay in 2024, about 4.4 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 CenterAmes22$26,581$6,010
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center DownIowa City16$37,307$6,046
St Lukes HospitalCedar Rapids15$24,973$6,408
St Lukes Regional Medical CenterSioux City20$24,850$6,561
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids24$27,873$6,655
Trinity Regional Medical CenterFort Dodge11$18,350$6,672
Genesis Medical Center-DavenportDavenport33$26,600$6,676
Mercyone Des Moines Medical CenterDes Moines36$46,177$6,685
Mercyone Dubuque Medical CenterDubuque19$29,271$6,715
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist MediDes Moines46$34,589$6,980
Methodist Jennie EdmundsonCouncil Bluffs26$29,646$7,004
Chi Health Mercy Council BluffsCouncil Bluffs12$38,448$7,112
Mercyone North Iowa Medical CenterMason City28$43,963$7,456
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical CenterWest Burlington30$25,658$7,636
University of Iowa Hospital & ClinicsIowa City21$67,415$11,113

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.