What 7 hospitals in Iowa charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for gastrointestinal obstruction with major complications (DRG 388), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Iowa billed an average of $52,356 for gastrointestinal obstruction with major complications, about 4.4 times the average total payment of $11,995. That payment is 17% below the U.S. average of $14,417.
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 23¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Iowa billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Iowa:
Every Iowa hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa Hospital & ClinicsIowa City | 22 | $82,693 | $17,624 | $12,369 |
| Iowa Methodist Medical CenterDes Moines | 22 | $48,496 | $11,306 | $9,167 |
| Genesis Medical Center-DavenportDavenport | 18 | $39,463 | $11,282 | $9,830 |
| Mercy Medical Center-Des MoinesDes Moines | 17 | $68,742 | $10,221 | $8,087 |
| Jennie Edmundson HospitalCouncil Bluffs | 15 | $25,544 | $9,913 | $8,659 |
| Mercy Medical Center-North IowaMason City | 14 | $44,583 | $10,982 | $9,190 |
| Mercy Medical Center-DubuqueDubuque | 11 | $41,628 | $10,149 | $9,251 |
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.
| Jennie Edmundson HospitalCouncil Bluffs, IA | $9,913 |
|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center-DubuqueDubuque, IA | $10,149 |
| Mercy Medical Center-Des MoinesDes Moines, IA | $10,221 |
| Mercy Medical Center-North IowaMason City, IA | $10,982 |
| Genesis Medical Center-DavenportDavenport, IA | $11,282 |
| University of Iowa Hospital & ClinicsIowa City, IA | $17,624 |
|---|---|
| Iowa Methodist Medical CenterDes Moines, IA | $11,306 |
| Genesis Medical Center-DavenportDavenport, IA | $11,282 |
| Mercy Medical Center-North IowaMason City, IA | $10,982 |
| Mercy Medical Center-Des MoinesDes Moines, IA | $10,221 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for gastrointestinal obstruction with major complications (DRG 388) at 7 hospitals in Iowa was billed at $52,356 on average, while the average total payment was $11,995, of which Medicare paid $9,652. 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 Iowa, average charges were 4.4 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.