Duke University Hospital
Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC charges 4.2x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 212 analyzed procedures, placing it among hospitals with significant price premiums above government benchmarks.
Durham, NC 27705 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 5/5
About the analyst
Kevin Nyk analyzes hospital pricing data at BillRazor Research. He specializes in Medicare reimbursement patterns and chargemaster pricing across U.S. hospitals. Expertise: hospital pricing, Medicare rates, chargemaster analysis.
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Billing patterns — for-profit
For-profit hospitals in our dataset demonstrate distinct billing patterns, with 628 facilities showing an average markup of 7.8 times Medicare rates. These hospitals typically maintain higher charge structures across most service categories compared to non-profit and government facilities. Common patterns include substantial charges above benchmark rates for emergency services, surgical procedures, and diagnostic imaging. Patients should be aware that initial bills from for-profit hospitals often reflect chargemaster rates rather than negotiated insurance amounts. The billing structure frequently includes separate charges for facility fees, physician services, and ancillary services that may appear as multiple line items. Before receiving care, patients can request cost estimates and inquire about financial assistance programs, which are federally required at all hospital types. Understanding that insurance negotiations typically result in significantly lower actual payments than initial charges can help patients navigate the billing process more effectively when receiving care at for-profit facilities.
Pricing grade
C
Average
Avg markup vs Medicare
4.19x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
7.96x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
212
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
0%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC | 206 | $101,409 | $50,705 | — | 8x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT | 652 | $185,078 | $92,539 | — | 7.5x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH INTRALUMINAL DEVICE WITHOUT MCC | 322 | $94,921 | $47,461 | — | 7.2x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $267,698 | $133,849 | — | 6.8x |
| LOWER EXTREMITY AND HUMERUS PROCEDURES EXCEPT HIP, FOOT AND FEMUR WITH CC | 493 | $128,648 | $64,324 | — | 6.1x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $98,006 | $49,003 | — | 6x |
| PERCUTANEOUS AND OTHER INTRACARDIAC PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 273 | $174,831 | $87,415 | — | 6x |
| VIRAL ILLNESS WITHOUT MCC | 866 | $42,007 | $21,004 | — | 5.9x |
| LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH CC | 841 | $90,206 | $45,103 | — | 5.9x |
| MAJOR HEMATOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES EXCEPT SICKLE CELL CRISIS AND COAGULATIO | 809 | $78,961 | $39,481 | — | 5.8x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITH CC | 243 | $123,414 | $61,707 | — | 5.8x |
| ENDOVASCULAR CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 267 | $254,600 | $127,300 | — | 5.8x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $47,222 | $23,611 | — | 5.7x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH MCC | 082 | $113,439 | $56,720 | — | 5.7x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITH MCC | 242 | $174,503 | $87,252 | — | 5.6x |
| ISCHEMIC STROKE, PRECEREBRAL OCCLUSION OR TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITH THROMBOLYTIC AGENT WIT | 062 | $77,145 | $38,573 | — | 5.6x |
| LUNG TRANSPLANT | 007 | $764,126 | $382,063 | — | 5.5x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITHOUT MCC | 055 | $42,707 | $21,354 | — | 5.4x |
| CHEMOTHERAPY WITHOUT ACUTE LEUKEMIA AS SECONDARY DIAGNOSIS WITH CC | 847 | $74,812 | $37,406 | — | 5.4x |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 439 | $37,762 | $18,881 | — | 5.4x |
| LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 823 | $316,548 | $158,274 | — | 5.3x |
| AORTIC AND HEART ASSIST PROCEDURES EXCEPT PULSATION BALLOON WITHOUT MCC | 269 | $198,689 | $99,345 | — | 5.3x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC | 640 | $70,360 | $35,180 | — | 5.3x |
| CRANIOTOMY WITH MAJOR DEVICE IMPLANT OR ACUTE COMPLEX CNS PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT MC | 024 | $164,570 | $82,285 | — | 5.2x |
| OTHER CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 229 | $165,681 | $82,840 | — | 5.2x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $142,785 | $71,392 | — | 5.1x |
| CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 074 | $46,339 | $23,170 | — | 5.1x |
| DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITH MCC | 056 | $111,640 | $55,820 | — | 5.1x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITH MCC | 811 | $83,547 | $41,774 | — | 5.1x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $45,322 | $22,661 | — | 5.1x |
| CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 432 | $72,917 | $36,459 | — | 5.1x |
| ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH MCC | 834 | $305,963 | $152,981 | — | 5.1x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $41,381 | $20,691 | — | 5.1x |
| ENDOVASCULAR CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 266 | $325,344 | $162,672 | — | 5.1x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 329 | $219,614 | $109,807 | — | 5.1x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $34,757 | $17,379 | — | 5x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $97,751 | $48,876 | — | 5x |
| EXTRACRANIAL PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 039 | $41,246 | $20,623 | — | 5x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITHOUT CC/MCC | 482 | $54,015 | $27,008 | — | 5x |
| PERCUTANEOUS AND OTHER INTRACARDIAC PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 274 | $148,374 | $74,187 | — | 5x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH CC | 292 | $45,804 | $22,902 | — | 5x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $37,583 | $18,791 | — | 4.9x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 357 | $83,544 | $41,772 | — | 4.9x |
| EXTENSIVE O.R. PROCEDURES UNRELATED TO PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH MCC | 981 | $193,926 | $96,963 | — | 4.9x |
| LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH MCC | 840 | $162,994 | $81,497 | — | 4.9x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $39,387 | $19,693 | — | 4.9x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $31,139 | $15,569 | — | 4.8x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $71,851 | $35,926 | — | 4.7x |
| OTHER SKIN, SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE AND BREAST PROCEDURES WITH CC | 580 | $72,547 | $36,274 | — | 4.7x |
| COMBINED ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR SPINAL FUSION WITH CC | 454 | $279,399 | $139,699 | — | 4.7x |
Showing 50 of 212 procedures
How DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL compares to nearby hospitals
Comparison based on average markup ratios from federal hospital pricing data (FY 2024). Chargemaster rates are gross charges — they are not what most insured patients pay. Actual costs depend on your insurance plan, negotiated rates, and coverage terms. This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice. Verify costs directly with your provider and insurer.
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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.
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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