Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa charges 4.8x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average across 33 analyzed procedures at this nonprofit religious hospital.
Waterloo, IA 50702 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 4/5
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 — nonprofit-religious
Nonprofit religious hospitals, representing 203 facilities in the dataset, demonstrate an average markup of 5.4x Medicare rates, positioning them in the mid-range compared to other ownership types. These institutions typically maintain standardized charge structures across their health system networks, often reflecting their mission-driven approach to healthcare delivery. Patients at nonprofit religious hospitals may encounter charges above the benchmark for routine procedures, though many offer financial assistance programs and charity care policies that can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for qualifying individuals. Common billing patterns include transparent pricing for elective procedures and comprehensive financial counseling services. The potential difference between listed charges and actual patient responsibility can be substantial, particularly for uninsured patients who may qualify for sliding-scale payment options. Patients should inquire about available financial assistance programs during the admissions process, as these hospitals often have more flexible payment arrangements compared to for-profit facilities, reflecting their tax-exempt status and community benefit obligations.
Pricing grade
C
Average
Avg markup vs Medicare
4.8x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
8.07x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
33
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $75,647 | $37,824 | — | 8.1x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $43,338 | $21,669 | — | 7x |
| MAJOR HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT OR REATTACHMENT OF LOWER EXTREMITY WITHOUT MCC | 470 | $78,681 | $39,340 | — | 6.8x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $33,147 | $16,573 | — | 6.6x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $89,646 | $44,823 | — | 6.3x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $33,399 | $16,700 | — | 6.2x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $114,263 | $57,131 | — | 6x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $35,888 | $17,944 | — | 5.9x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $38,565 | $19,282 | — | 5.8x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 689 | $40,914 | $20,457 | — | 5.8x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $23,830 | $11,915 | — | 5.5x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH MCC | 193 | $38,306 | $19,153 | — | 5.4x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $25,258 | $12,629 | — | 5.3x |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH MCC | 190 | $37,606 | $18,803 | — | 5.1x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $27,684 | $13,842 | — | 5x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH CC | 194 | $25,700 | $12,850 | — | 4.8x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $26,111 | $13,055 | — | 4.6x |
| ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE OR DEPENDENCE WITHOUT REHABILITATION THERAPY WITHOUT MCC | 897 | $21,799 | $10,899 | — | 4.4x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $26,747 | $13,374 | — | 4.3x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $17,646 | $8,823 | — | 4.3x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 853 | $130,043 | $65,022 | — | 4.1x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC | 280 | $38,536 | $19,268 | — | 4x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC | 308 | $29,971 | $14,985 | — | 3.9x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITH MCC | 871 | $45,883 | $22,941 | — | 3.9x |
| RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND INFLAMMATIONS WITH MCC | 177 | $46,945 | $23,472 | — | 3.8x |
| CELLULITIS WITHOUT MCC | 603 | $20,487 | $10,244 | — | 3.8x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $41,990 | $20,995 | — | 3.5x |
| RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND INFLAMMATIONS WITH CC | 178 | $23,974 | $11,987 | — | 3.5x |
| OTHER KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 698 | $33,017 | $16,509 | — | 3.2x |
| PSYCHOSES | 885 | $28,359 | $14,180 | — | 3.1x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH MCC | 291 | $26,107 | $13,054 | — | 3.1x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $13,885 | $6,942 | — | 2.9x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH MCC | 682 | $26,064 | $13,032 | — | 2.8x |
How MERCYONE WATERLOO 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.
FAQ — nonprofit-religious 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