What 4 hospitals in Missouri charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for headaches without major complications (DRG 103), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Missouri billed an average of $38,357 for headaches without major complications, about 4.2 times the average total payment of $9,218. That payment is 11% below the U.S. average of $10,322.
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 Missouri billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Missouri:
Every Missouri hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's Mercy Medical CenterSt Louis | 17 | $23,798 | $8,148 | $3,868 |
| St Lukes Hospital of Kansas CityKansas City | 12 | $48,936 | $8,691 | $5,441 |
| Barnes Jewish HospitalSt Louis | 11 | $49,721 | $11,171 | $6,881 |
| University Hospitals & ClinicsColumbia | 11 | $37,953 | $9,495 | $5,251 |
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.
| St John's Mercy Medical CenterSt Louis, MO | $8,148 |
|---|---|
| St Lukes Hospital of Kansas CityKansas City, MO | $8,691 |
| University Hospitals & ClinicsColumbia, MO | $9,495 |
| Barnes Jewish HospitalSt Louis, MO | $11,171 |
| Barnes Jewish HospitalSt Louis, MO | $11,171 |
|---|---|
| University Hospitals & ClinicsColumbia, MO | $9,495 |
| St Lukes Hospital of Kansas CityKansas City, MO | $8,691 |
| St John's Mercy Medical CenterSt Louis, MO | $8,148 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for headaches without major complications (DRG 103) at 4 hospitals in Missouri was billed at $38,357 on average, while the average total payment was $9,218, of which Medicare paid $5,186. 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 Missouri, 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.