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)
| Hospital | City | Medicare stays | Billed | Paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Greeley Medical Center | Ames | 22 | $26,581 | $6,010 | |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down | Iowa City | 16 | $37,307 | $6,046 | |
| St Lukes Hospital | Cedar Rapids | 15 | $24,973 | $6,408 | |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center | Sioux City | 20 | $24,850 | $6,561 | |
| Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids | 24 | $27,873 | $6,655 | |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center | Fort Dodge | 11 | $18,350 | $6,672 | |
| Genesis Medical Center-Davenport | Davenport | 33 | $26,600 | $6,676 | |
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center | Des Moines | 36 | $46,177 | $6,685 | |
| Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center | Dubuque | 19 | $29,271 | $6,715 | |
| Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi | Des Moines | 46 | $34,589 | $6,980 | |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson | Council Bluffs | 26 | $29,646 | $7,004 | |
| Chi Health Mercy Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs | 12 | $38,448 | $7,112 | |
| Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center | Mason City | 28 | $43,963 | $7,456 | |
| Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center | West Burlington | 30 | $25,658 | $7,636 | |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics | Iowa City | 21 | $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.