Erlanger Medical Center
ERLANGER MEDICAL CENTER in Chattanooga, TN charges 4.5x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 127 analyzed procedures, reflecting typical pricing patterns for government-owned hospitals.
Chattanooga, TN 37403 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5
About the analyst
Priya Iyengar leads the billing code review team at BillRazor Research. She analyzes NCCI bundling edits, DRG coding, and regional rate variation. Expertise: NCCI bundling, DRG analysis, regional pricing.
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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
C
Average
Avg markup vs Medicare
4.46x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
7.15x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
127
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $242,067 | $121,033 | — | 7.2x |
| OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC | 964 | $70,190 | $35,095 | — | 7x |
| NONSPECIFIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS WITH MCC | 070 | $71,166 | $35,583 | — | 6.7x |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 439 | $53,544 | $26,772 | — | 6.7x |
| PNEUMOTHORAX WITH CC | 200 | $48,022 | $24,011 | — | 6.5x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH MCC | 082 | $106,862 | $53,431 | — | 6.5x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $85,826 | $42,913 | — | 6.4x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $117,487 | $58,743 | — | 6.2x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NEOPLASM WITH CC | 657 | $70,681 | $35,340 | — | 6x |
| TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITHOUT THROMBOLYTIC | 069 | $36,283 | $18,141 | — | 6x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC | 184 | $41,494 | $20,747 | — | 5.9x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $85,135 | $42,568 | — | 5.8x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH MCC | 085 | $89,611 | $44,805 | — | 5.8x |
| LIMB REATTACHMENT, HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES FOR MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA | 956 | $153,074 | $76,537 | — | 5.8x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH CC | 086 | $51,712 | $25,856 | — | 5.8x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $46,528 | $23,264 | — | 5.8x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH CC | 083 | $55,386 | $27,693 | — | 5.6x |
| MAJOR BLADDER PROCEDURES WITH CC | 654 | $102,644 | $51,322 | — | 5.5x |
| HYPERTENSION WITHOUT MCC | 305 | $30,692 | $15,346 | — | 5.5x |
| RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS WITH VENTILATOR SUPPORT <=96 HOURS | 208 | $119,565 | $59,782 | — | 5.5x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $35,474 | $17,737 | — | 5.4x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION OR OPEN ABLATION WITH MCC | 233 | $246,896 | $123,448 | — | 5.3x |
| EXTENSIVE O.R. PROCEDURES UNRELATED TO PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH MCC | 981 | $164,951 | $82,475 | — | 5.3x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 329 | $182,788 | $91,394 | — | 5.3x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH MCC | 659 | $111,725 | $55,863 | — | 5.3x |
| DIABETES WITH MCC | 637 | $54,657 | $27,329 | — | 5.3x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 220 | $173,222 | $86,611 | — | 5.2x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 236 | $130,856 | $65,428 | — | 5.1x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $65,250 | $32,625 | — | 5.1x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $37,941 | $18,971 | — | 5x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 235 | $207,240 | $103,620 | — | 5x |
| PSYCHOSES | 885 | $46,239 | $23,119 | — | 5x |
| CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 432 | $71,287 | $35,644 | — | 5x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $35,777 | $17,888 | — | 5x |
| OTHER KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 698 | $62,830 | $31,415 | — | 5x |
| OTHER O.R. PROCEDURES FOR MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC | 957 | $277,104 | $138,552 | — | 5x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $33,489 | $16,745 | — | 4.9x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NEOPLASM WITHOUT CC/MCC | 658 | $47,058 | $23,529 | — | 4.9x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 393 | $55,553 | $27,777 | — | 4.9x |
| ECMO OR TRACHEOSTOMY WITH MV >96 HOURS OR PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS EXCEPT FACE, MOUTH AND NEC | 003 | $771,221 | $385,610 | — | 4.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $36,412 | $18,206 | — | 4.9x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITH MV >96 HOURS | 870 | $215,668 | $107,834 | — | 4.8x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $69,558 | $34,779 | — | 4.8x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH CC | 418 | $51,305 | $25,652 | — | 4.8x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $42,806 | $21,403 | — | 4.8x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $33,441 | $16,720 | — | 4.8x |
| EXTENSIVE O.R. PROCEDURES UNRELATED TO PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH CC | 982 | $86,750 | $43,375 | — | 4.8x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $61,045 | $30,523 | — | 4.7x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $34,555 | $17,278 | — | 4.7x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 314 | $64,920 | $32,460 | — | 4.7x |
Showing 50 of 127 procedures
How ERLANGER MEDICAL CENTER 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