Atrium Health Union

ATRIUM HEALTH UNION in Monroe, NC charges 5.9x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average across 62 analyzed procedures, representing typical pricing for a government-owned hospital.

Monroe, NC 28112 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5

By Elena Vasquez , Medical Billing Research Lead · Published March 15, 2026 · Updated April 3, 2026

Data from CMS files published FY 2024 CMS IPPS. Refreshed weekly.

About the analyst

Elena Vasquez leads hospital billing pattern analysis at BillRazor Research. She focuses on identifying overcharges, markup outliers, and patient advocacy strategies. Expertise: hospital billing patterns, overcharge analysis, patient advocacy.

62 procedures analyzed

CMS price transparency data

Updated 2026-04-03

5.9x

Medicare markup ratio

NC lowestAtrium Health UnionNC highest

5.9x

Avg markup ratio

5.6x

Median markup

Procedures

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Billing patterns — government

Government hospitals in our dataset demonstrate distinct billing patterns compared to other ownership types. With 374 facilities analyzed, these hospitals show an average markup of 4.2x Medicare rates, which typically falls below the industry average for comparable services. Government hospitals often maintain more standardized pricing structures due to regulatory oversight and public accountability requirements. Patients may encounter charges above the benchmark for certain procedures, though the potential difference between government hospital billing and private facilities can vary significantly by service type and geographic region. Common charge patterns include transparent itemization of services and adherence to established fee schedules. Patients should be aware that government hospitals frequently offer financial assistance programs and sliding scale payment options based on income eligibility. These facilities often provide detailed cost estimates upon request and maintain patient financial counselors to discuss billing arrangements before treatment when possible.

Pricing grade

High

Avg markup vs Medicare

5.94x

Charge / Medicare rate

Max markup

10.29x

Worst procedure

Procedures analyzed

With pricing data

Outlier procedures

Above 90th percentile

Pricing grades reflect how this hospital's chargemaster (list) rates compare to Medicare reimbursement benchmarks within the same state. Grades measure pricing patterns only — not quality of care, patient outcomes, or clinical performance. A lower grade does not mean a hospital provides inferior care. Based on publicly available federal data. Not endorsed by or affiliated with any government agency.

Procedure	Code	Gross charge	Cash price	Medicare	Markup
DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC	057	$63,946	$31,973	—	10.3x
NONSPECIFIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS WITH MCC	070	$99,410	$49,705	—	10x
INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC	066	$40,951	$20,475	—	8.8x
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITHOUT THROMBOLYTIC	069	$45,218	$22,609	—	8.5x
HYPERTENSION WITHOUT MCC	305	$37,207	$18,604	—	8.1x
MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH MCC	329	$280,988	$140,494	—	8.1x
OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC	314	$98,950	$49,475	—	7.8x
ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC	281	$47,837	$23,918	—	7.7x
MAJOR HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT OR REATTACHMENT OF LOWER EXTREMITY WITHOUT MCC	470	$97,819	$48,909	—	7.6x
INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS	065	$48,503	$24,251	—	7.5x
CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC	310	$28,203	$14,102	—	7.4x
DIABETES WITH CC	638	$41,024	$20,512	—	7.2x
SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC	101	$42,543	$21,271	—	7.2x
CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC	286	$83,781	$41,890	—	7x
RESPIRATORY NEOPLASMS WITH MCC	180	$83,014	$41,507	—	6.8x
SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE	312	$37,470	$18,735	—	6.6x
HIP REPLACEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS OF HIP FRACTURE WITHOUT MCC	522	$94,810	$47,405	—	6.6x
SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC	872	$40,496	$20,248	—	6.5x
KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC	690	$34,517	$17,259	—	6.5x
MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC	552	$41,047	$20,523	—	6.4x
GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC	390	$22,244	$11,122	—	6.2x
CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC	309	$29,267	$14,634	—	6.2x
HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC	481	$83,592	$41,796	—	6x
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH CC	191	$32,167	$16,084	—	6x
SEIZURES WITH MCC	100	$85,744	$42,872	—	6x
HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH MCC	480	$112,637	$56,318	—	6x
MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC	641	$29,466	$14,733	—	5.9x
INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC	853	$178,101	$89,051	—	5.8x
BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITH CC/MCC	202	$34,967	$17,483	—	5.7x
OTHER KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC	698	$61,620	$30,810	—	5.7x
ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC	392	$28,291	$14,146	—	5.6x
RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC	812	$35,723	$17,862	—	5.6x
OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC	315	$33,634	$16,817	—	5.6x
GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC	378	$37,133	$18,566	—	5.5x
KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITH MCC	689	$43,977	$21,989	—	5.5x
GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC	389	$30,094	$15,047	—	5.4x
SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH CC	194	$28,136	$14,068	—	5.4x
PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE	189	$44,987	$22,494	—	5.4x
OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC	394	$33,165	$16,583	—	5.3x
RENAL FAILURE WITH MCC	682	$53,391	$26,695	—	5.2x
HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH CC	292	$30,978	$15,489	—	5.2x
ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC	280	$54,878	$27,439	—	5.1x
HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH MCC	291	$43,043	$21,522	—	5x
MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC	640	$43,857	$21,928	—	5x
CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC	308	$39,140	$19,570	—	5x
SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITH MCC	871	$63,345	$31,673	—	5x
INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC	064	$61,486	$30,743	—	5x
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH MCC	190	$35,703	$17,852	—	4.9x
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND INFLAMMATIONS WITH CC	178	$36,697	$18,349	—	4.9x
DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITH MCC	056	$67,174	$33,587	—	4.8x

Showing 50 of 62 procedures

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Pricing data from federal hospital transparency files and physician fee schedules. Last updated: . All data is publicly available under federal law.

Rates shown are from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and CMS IPPS. BillRazor compares your bill against these data sources. See how it works →

FAQ — government hospital billing

How do government hospital billing rates compare to Medicare benchmarks?

Based on available data from 374 government hospitals, charges average 4.2 times the Medicare benchmark rates. Government hospitals, while publicly owned, still establish their own pricing structures that can result in charges above standard Medicare rates.

Why do government hospitals charge above Medicare rates if they're publicly owned?

Government hospitals operate as independent entities that must cover operational costs, equipment, and staffing expenses. Public ownership doesn't require hospitals to limit charges to Medicare benchmark levels, as they still need to maintain financial sustainability for continued operations.

What should I expect when reviewing a government hospital bill?

Government hospital bills typically show charges that may be several times higher than Medicare benchmark rates, with the average markup being approximately 4.2x across sampled facilities. The final amount you pay will depend on your insurance coverage, negotiated rates, and any applicable financial assistance programs.

Are there potential billing differences between government hospitals and other facility types?

Government hospitals show similar billing patterns to other hospital types, with charges typically set above Medicare benchmarks. The potential difference in what patients ultimately pay often depends more on individual insurance plans and hospital financial assistance policies than on the ownership structure of the facility.

Related pricing data

NC hospital rankingsCompare all hospitals in NC

Monroe, NC costsCity-level pricing data

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Data: Federal hospital pricing data, updated annually. All data publicly available under federal law.

Methodology: Hospital gross charges divided by Medicare payment for the same DRG. A ratio of 3.0x means the hospital's listed price is 3 times what Medicare pays. Chargemaster rates are list prices — they are not what most insured patients pay. Grades measure pricing patterns only — not quality of care or clinical performance.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical, financial, or legal advice. Actual costs depend on your insurance and provider. We recommend verifying costs directly with your provider. Full methodology · Terms of use