George Washington Univ Hospital
George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC charges 9.3x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average, with 69% of analyzed procedures showing significant price variations.
Washington, DC 20037 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 1/5
About the analyst
Michael Glenn reviews CMS datasets and drug pricing at BillRazor Research. He focuses on NADAC acquisition costs and procedure coding accuracy. Expertise: drug pricing, NADAC data, CPT coding.
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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
F
Very high
Avg markup vs Medicare
9.31x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
21.34x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
83
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
68.7%
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 | 652 | $659,243 | $329,621 | — | 21.3x |
| TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITHOUT THROMBOLYTIC | 069 | $111,667 | $55,833 | — | 18.5x |
| DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITH MCC | 056 | $291,195 | $145,598 | — | 14.7x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $218,248 | $109,124 | — | 13.5x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $118,663 | $59,331 | — | 12.7x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $50,344 | $25,172 | — | 12.7x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $241,818 | $120,909 | — | 12.6x |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITHOUT MCC | 176 | $71,693 | $35,846 | — | 12.5x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $234,838 | $117,419 | — | 12.2x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $345,032 | $172,516 | — | 12x |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITH MCC OR ACUTE COR PULMONALE | 175 | $175,342 | $87,671 | — | 11.9x |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WITHOUT MCC | 948 | $75,516 | $37,758 | — | 11.1x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 330 | $285,051 | $142,526 | — | 11.1x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $76,396 | $38,198 | — | 11.1x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 314 | $194,751 | $97,375 | — | 10.5x |
| DIABETES WITH MCC | 637 | $144,934 | $72,467 | — | 10.5x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $67,282 | $33,641 | — | 10.5x |
| DIGESTIVE MALIGNANCY WITH MCC | 374 | $230,722 | $115,361 | — | 10.3x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $84,692 | $42,346 | — | 10.3x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $89,890 | $44,945 | — | 10.3x |
| CRANIOTOMY AND ENDOVASCULAR INTRACRANIAL PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 025 | $616,217 | $308,108 | — | 10.1x |
| PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS WITH CC | 300 | $91,072 | $45,536 | — | 10x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 252 | $375,529 | $187,764 | — | 10x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITH MCC | 871 | $202,591 | $101,296 | — | 9.9x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $83,919 | $41,959 | — | 9.9x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH MCC | 480 | $272,072 | $136,036 | — | 9.9x |
| COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH MCC | 919 | $198,298 | $99,149 | — | 9.8x |
| DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 057 | $125,201 | $62,600 | — | 9.7x |
| SPINAL FUSION EXCEPT CERVICAL WITHOUT MCC | 460 | $358,407 | $179,204 | — | 9.6x |
| CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 432 | $182,217 | $91,109 | — | 9.5x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $100,270 | $50,135 | — | 9.4x |
| RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS WITH VENTILATOR SUPPORT <=96 HOURS | 208 | $226,831 | $113,415 | — | 9.3x |
| CHEST PAIN | 313 | $55,570 | $27,785 | — | 9.2x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $153,482 | $76,741 | — | 9.2x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $78,008 | $39,004 | — | 9.1x |
| HIP REPLACEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS OF HIP FRACTURE WITHOUT MCC | 522 | $185,361 | $92,680 | — | 9.1x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH MCC | 193 | $112,093 | $56,046 | — | 9x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $72,801 | $36,401 | — | 9x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH MCC | 291 | $112,316 | $56,158 | — | 8.8x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH MCC | 682 | $143,432 | $71,716 | — | 8.8x |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH MCC | 190 | $89,128 | $44,564 | — | 8.8x |
| OTHER KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 698 | $133,377 | $66,689 | — | 8.8x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $68,023 | $34,012 | — | 8.8x |
| CELLULITIS WITHOUT MCC | 603 | $70,414 | $35,207 | — | 8.7x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $158,111 | $79,056 | — | 8.6x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC | 280 | $132,921 | $66,460 | — | 8.6x |
| HYPERTENSION WITHOUT MCC | 305 | $57,811 | $28,905 | — | 8.5x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $165,070 | $82,535 | — | 8.5x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 853 | $504,429 | $252,214 | — | 8.5x |
| MAJOR CHEST PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 165 | $124,427 | $62,214 | — | 8.5x |
Showing 50 of 83 procedures
How GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV 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.
FAQ — for-profit hospital billing
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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