What 13 hospitals in Kentucky charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for extensive operating room procedures unrelated to principal diagnosis with major complications (DRG 981), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Kentucky billed an average of $176,398 for extensive operating room procedures unrelated to principal diagnosis with major complications, about 4.9 times the average total payment of $36,347. That payment is 23% below the U.S. average of $47,051.
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 21¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Kentucky billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Kentucky:
Every Kentucky hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton Healthcare PavilionLouisville | 62 | $207,030 | $33,364 | $30,451 |
| Jewish HospitalLouisville | 29 | $192,071 | $46,145 | $38,784 |
| Hardin Memorial HospitalElizabethtown | 20 | $189,093 | $30,137 | $26,397 |
| St Elizabeth Med Center-SouthEdgewood | 20 | $123,620 | $39,643 | $25,788 |
| Baptist Hospital EastLouisville | 19 | $192,799 | $29,974 | $25,170 |
| University of Kentucky HospLexington | 18 | $182,460 | $45,178 | $31,094 |
| The Medical Center at Bowling GreenBowling Green | 15 | $129,107 | $35,922 | $32,640 |
| Central Baptist HospitalLexington | 14 | $216,395 | $29,282 | $23,478 |
| King's Daughters' Medical CenterAshland | 13 | $115,933 | $28,430 | $22,507 |
| Saint Joseph HospitalLexington | 12 | $116,198 | $31,016 | $29,528 |
| University of Louisville HospitalLouisville | 12 | $191,267 | $43,686 | $37,909 |
| Owensboro Medical Health SystemOwensboro | 11 | $152,097 | $38,691 | $37,001 |
| Pikeville Medical CenterPikeville | 11 | $155,850 | $43,576 | $36,810 |
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.
| King's Daughters' Medical CenterAshland, KY | $28,430 |
|---|---|
| Central Baptist HospitalLexington, KY | $29,282 |
| Baptist Hospital EastLouisville, KY | $29,974 |
| Hardin Memorial HospitalElizabethtown, KY | $30,137 |
| Saint Joseph HospitalLexington, KY | $31,016 |
| Jewish HospitalLouisville, KY | $46,145 |
|---|---|
| University of Kentucky HospLexington, KY | $45,178 |
| University of Louisville HospitalLouisville, KY | $43,686 |
| Pikeville Medical CenterPikeville, KY | $43,576 |
| St Elizabeth Med Center-SouthEdgewood, KY | $39,643 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for extensive operating room procedures unrelated to principal diagnosis with major complications (DRG 981) at 13 hospitals in Kentucky was billed at $176,398 on average, while the average total payment was $36,347, of which Medicare paid $30,572. 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 Kentucky, average charges were 4.9 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.