What 9 hospitals in Alabama charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with complications (DRG 191), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Alabama billed an average of $32,194 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with complications, about 4.2 times the average total payment of $7,679. That payment is 7% below the U.S. average of $8,280.
These are averages for patients with original (fee-for-service) Medicare. Private insurance pays different, negotiated prices, and what you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Use these figures to compare hospitals, not as a quote.
About 24¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Alabama billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Alabama:
Every Alabama hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville | 51 | $27,097 | $6,452 | $4,656 |
| Cullman Regional Medical CenterCullman | 32 | $23,473 | $6,646 | $5,626 |
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham | 29 | $62,031 | $13,516 | $6,257 |
| East Alabama Medical Center and SnfOpelika | 20 | $22,258 | $7,138 | $5,352 |
| D C H Regional Medical CenterTuscaloosa | 20 | $24,743 | $8,244 | $6,581 |
| Prattville Baptist HospitalPrattville | 16 | $26,160 | $6,184 | $4,654 |
| North Alabama Medical CenterFlorence | 14 | $39,710 | $6,726 | $5,034 |
| Helen Keller Memorial HospitalSheffield | 13 | $29,932 | $5,833 | $5,079 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile | 12 | $35,710 | $6,607 | $5,375 |
Among hospitals with at least 11 Medicare hospital stays. Differences reflect local wage costs, teaching status and how sick patients were, as well as price.
| Helen Keller Memorial HospitalSheffield, AL | $5,833 |
|---|---|
| Prattville Baptist HospitalPrattville, AL | $6,184 |
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville, AL | $6,452 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile, AL | $6,607 |
| Cullman Regional Medical CenterCullman, AL | $6,646 |
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham, AL | $13,516 |
|---|---|
| D C H Regional Medical CenterTuscaloosa, AL | $8,244 |
| East Alabama Medical Center and SnfOpelika, AL | $7,138 |
| North Alabama Medical CenterFlorence, AL | $6,726 |
| Cullman Regional Medical CenterCullman, AL | $6,646 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with complications (DRG 191) at 9 hospitals in Alabama was billed at $32,194 on average, while the average total payment was $7,679, of which Medicare paid $5,377. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Charges are a hospital's list prices. Medicare pays fixed rates set in advance, and private insurers negotiate their own discounts, so almost nobody pays the full charge. For this stay in Alabama, average charges were 4.2 times the average payment. Uninsured patients can ask the hospital about its financial assistance (charity care) policy and cash prices.
Source: CMS, Medicare Inpatient Hospitals by Provider and Service, 2024. Average total payment includes Medicare's payment, the patient's deductible and coinsurance, and any other payer. CMS omits hospitals with fewer than 11 hospital stays for privacy. About the data.