Comprehensive Observation Services in Montana
What 10 hospitals in Montana charged and were paid for comprehensive observation services (APC 8011), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$10,951
Hospital list price billed
Average allowed
$2,595
Medicare's payment + patient's share
Medicare paid
$2,064
Average per service
State rank
#31 of 49
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Montana billed an average of $10,951 for comprehensive observation services, about 4.2 times the average medicare-allowed amount of $2,595. That payment is 1% below the U.S. average of $2,634.
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.
Paid $2,595Billed $10,951
About 24¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Montana billed for this service.
Montana hospitals: comprehensive observation services
Every Montana hospital that billed Medicare for this service at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Services | Avg charge | Avg allowed | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Vincent HealthcareBillings | 718 | $9,155 | $2,540 | $2,018 |
| Benefis Hospitals INCGreat Falls | 507 | $13,156 | $2,554 | $2,032 |
| St Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences CenterMissoula | 491 | $10,067 | $2,562 | $2,040 |
| Billings Clinic HospitalBillings | 389 | $8,375 | $2,539 | $2,018 |
| Logan Health Medical CenterKalispell | 231 | $12,944 | $2,749 | $2,187 |
| Bozeman Deaconess HospitalBozeman | 228 | $10,409 | $2,734 | $2,174 |
| St James HealthcareButte | 222 | $14,096 | $2,739 | $2,179 |
| Great Falls Clinic Medical CenterGreat Falls | 200 | $12,503 | $2,556 | $2,034 |
| St Peter's HospitalHelena | 165 | $11,261 | $2,682 | $2,134 |
| Community Medical Center INCMissoula | 62 | $14,373 | $2,488 | $1,965 |
Lowest and highest allowed amounts in Montana
Among hospitals with at least 11 Medicare services. Differences reflect local wage costs, teaching status and how sick patients were, as well as price.
Lowest
| Community Medical Center INCMissoula, MT | $2,488 |
|---|---|
| Billings Clinic HospitalBillings, MT | $2,539 |
| St Vincent HealthcareBillings, MT | $2,540 |
| Benefis Hospitals INCGreat Falls, MT | $2,554 |
| Great Falls Clinic Medical CenterGreat Falls, MT | $2,556 |
Highest
| Logan Health Medical CenterKalispell, MT | $2,749 |
|---|---|
| St James HealthcareButte, MT | $2,739 |
| Bozeman Deaconess HospitalBozeman, MT | $2,734 |
| St Peter's HospitalHelena, MT | $2,682 |
| St Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences CenterMissoula, MT | $2,562 |
Comprehensive Observation Services in other states
Questions
How much does comprehensive observation services cost in Montana?
In 2024 Medicare data, comprehensive observation services (APC 8011) at 10 hospitals in Montana was billed at $10,951 on average, while the average medicare-allowed amount was $2,595, of which Medicare paid $2,064. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Why are hospital charges so much higher than payments?
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 service in Montana, 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 Outpatient Hospitals by Provider and Service, 2024. The allowed amount is Medicare's payment plus the patient's coinsurance. CMS omits hospitals with fewer than 11 services for privacy. About the data.