Breathing problem needing a ventilator (up to 4 days) in North Dakota
MS-DRG 208: Respiratory system diagnosis with ventilator support <=96 hours
$75,310typical hospital bill
$22,708typical amount paid
$21,435–$25,395range paid across 5 hospitals
North Dakota hospitals billed Medicare a typical $75,310 for this stay in 2024, about 3.3 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altru Hospital | Grand Forks | 17 | $103,209 | $21,435 | |
| Sanford Medical Center Fargo | Fargo | 32 | $75,310 | $21,929 | |
| Trinity Hospitals | Minot | 19 | $73,119 | $22,708 | |
| Essentia Health | Fargo | 13 | $74,198 | $24,119 | |
| Sanford Medical Center Bismarck | Bismarck | 14 | $104,973 | $25,395 |
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.