Lovelace Medical Center
LOVELACE MEDICAL CENTER in Albuquerque, New Mexico charges 10.6x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average across 74 analyzed procedures at this for-profit hospital.
Albuquerque, NM 87102 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5
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.
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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
10.57x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
17.17x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
74
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
2.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 391 | $111,804 | $55,902 | — | 17.2x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $59,695 | $29,848 | — | 16.4x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $55,364 | $27,682 | — | 16.3x |
| DYSEQUILIBRIUM | 149 | $54,934 | $27,467 | — | 15.7x |
| HYPERTENSION WITHOUT MCC | 305 | $53,556 | $26,778 | — | 14.3x |
| DIABETES WITH CC | 638 | $65,695 | $32,848 | — | 14x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $62,031 | $31,016 | — | 14x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITHOUT CC/MCC | 282 | $48,349 | $24,174 | — | 13.9x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $55,987 | $27,994 | — | 13.8x |
| TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITHOUT THROMBOLYTIC | 069 | $51,326 | $25,663 | — | 13.7x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $30,833 | $15,417 | — | 13.5x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $71,506 | $35,753 | — | 13.4x |
| MAJOR HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT OR REATTACHMENT OF LOWER EXTREMITY WITHOUT MCC | 470 | $126,505 | $63,253 | — | 13.2x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH MCC | 444 | $114,861 | $57,431 | — | 13.1x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $56,380 | $28,190 | — | 12.5x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION OR OPEN ABLATION WITHOUT MCC | 234 | $351,767 | $175,884 | — | 12.2x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $44,224 | $22,112 | — | 12.2x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 330 | $168,623 | $84,312 | — | 12.1x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 236 | $299,150 | $149,575 | — | 12x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $48,796 | $24,398 | — | 11.9x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH CC | 445 | $74,403 | $37,202 | — | 11.9x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $60,066 | $30,033 | — | 11.9x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $192,429 | $96,214 | — | 11.8x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $66,950 | $33,475 | — | 11.6x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $64,864 | $32,432 | — | 11.5x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $116,803 | $58,402 | — | 11.2x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION OR OPEN ABLATION WITH MCC | 233 | $456,932 | $228,466 | — | 11.2x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $74,523 | $37,261 | — | 11.2x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC | 640 | $76,252 | $38,126 | — | 11.2x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $127,387 | $63,694 | — | 11.1x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $53,133 | $26,567 | — | 11x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITH MV >96 HOURS | 870 | $481,372 | $240,686 | — | 10.9x |
| OTHER MAJOR CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 270 | $318,823 | $159,412 | — | 10.9x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH INTRALUMINAL DEVICE WITHOUT MCC | 322 | $103,590 | $51,795 | — | 10.7x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $63,879 | $31,940 | — | 10.5x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITH MCC | 871 | $127,677 | $63,839 | — | 10.3x |
| PSYCHOSES | 885 | $82,002 | $41,001 | — | 10.3x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH MCC | 193 | $77,763 | $38,881 | — | 10.2x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH MCC | 377 | $111,519 | $55,760 | — | 10.1x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 689 | $69,463 | $34,732 | — | 10.1x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $123,540 | $61,770 | — | 9.9x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH MCC | 291 | $74,758 | $37,379 | — | 9.8x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 853 | $301,361 | $150,681 | — | 9.8x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 219 | $543,732 | $271,866 | — | 9.8x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $51,490 | $25,745 | — | 9.8x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH MCC | 682 | $83,256 | $41,628 | — | 9.6x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 220 | $326,298 | $163,149 | — | 9.4x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 235 | $342,351 | $171,175 | — | 9.4x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $171,380 | $85,690 | — | 9.2x |
| ENDOVASCULAR CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 266 | $383,031 | $191,516 | — | 9.2x |
Showing 50 of 74 procedures
How LOVELACE 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