St David's South Austin Medical Center
ST DAVID'S SOUTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER in Austin, TX charges 11.0x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 117 analyzed procedures, with 28% showing significant price variations.
Austin, TX 78704 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 4/5
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
11.02x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
19.16x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
117
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
28.2%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 220 | $543,886 | $271,943 | — | 19.2x |
| ENDOVASCULAR CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 267 | $653,913 | $326,957 | — | 17.8x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITHOUT CC/MCC | 419 | $135,246 | $67,623 | — | 17.2x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITH CC | 243 | $259,820 | $129,910 | — | 16.8x |
| PERCUTANEOUS AND OTHER INTRACARDIAC PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 274 | $362,569 | $181,284 | — | 16.8x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH CC | 418 | $161,552 | $80,776 | — | 16.6x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $142,244 | $71,122 | — | 16.5x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 331 | $160,967 | $80,483 | — | 15.5x |
| ENDOVASCULAR CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 266 | $661,897 | $330,948 | — | 15.2x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH MCC | 480 | $292,506 | $146,253 | — | 15.1x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $269,610 | $134,805 | — | 15.1x |
| LIMB REATTACHMENT, HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES FOR MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA | 956 | $342,008 | $171,004 | — | 14.7x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $196,290 | $98,145 | — | 14.7x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 236 | $396,701 | $198,351 | — | 14.6x |
| LOWER EXTREMITY AND HUMERUS PROCEDURES EXCEPT HIP, FOOT AND FEMUR WITH CC | 493 | $212,956 | $106,478 | — | 14.5x |
| MAJOR HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT OR REATTACHMENT OF LOWER EXTREMITY WITHOUT MCC | 470 | $172,762 | $86,381 | — | 14.2x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $170,883 | $85,441 | — | 14x |
| PNEUMOTHORAX WITH CC | 200 | $100,385 | $50,192 | — | 13.9x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITHOUT CC/MCC | 482 | $148,579 | $74,289 | — | 13.8x |
| LOWER EXTREMITY AND HUMERUS PROCEDURES EXCEPT HIP, FOOT AND FEMUR WITHOUT CC/MCC | 494 | $160,273 | $80,136 | — | 13.8x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $50,841 | $25,420 | — | 13.6x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITHOUT CC/MCC | 087 | $78,464 | $39,232 | — | 13.6x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $67,910 | $33,955 | — | 13.6x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WIT | 216 | $1,012,483 | $506,242 | — | 13.5x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC | 184 | $96,909 | $48,455 | — | 13.4x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION OR OPEN ABLATION WITH MCC | 233 | $744,647 | $372,324 | — | 13.2x |
| MAJOR CHEST PROCEDURES WITH CC | 164 | $200,443 | $100,221 | — | 13.1x |
| OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 166 | $218,897 | $109,449 | — | 13x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITH MCC | 242 | $301,680 | $150,840 | — | 12.7x |
| HIP REPLACEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS OF HIP FRACTURE WITHOUT MCC | 522 | $177,795 | $88,898 | — | 12.7x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $98,526 | $49,263 | — | 12.6x |
| CRANIOTOMY AND ENDOVASCULAR INTRACRANIAL PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 025 | $401,347 | $200,674 | — | 12.6x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH CC | 086 | $104,945 | $52,473 | — | 12.5x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH MCC | 417 | $184,844 | $92,422 | — | 12.5x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $120,048 | $60,024 | — | 12.5x |
| AUTOLOGOUS BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT WITH CC/MCC | 016 | $415,094 | $207,547 | — | 12.3x |
| ENDOCRINE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 643 | $168,352 | $84,176 | — | 12.2x |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITH MCC OR ACUTE COR PULMONALE | 175 | $108,942 | $54,471 | — | 12.2x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $227,174 | $113,587 | — | 12.2x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $75,810 | $37,905 | — | 12.1x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITH MV >96 HOURS | 870 | $460,084 | $230,042 | — | 12.1x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 854 | $164,728 | $82,364 | — | 11.9x |
| FRACTURE, SPRAIN, STRAIN AND DISLOCATION EXCEPT FEMUR, HIP, PELVIS AND THIGH WITHOUT MCC | 563 | $70,265 | $35,133 | — | 11.9x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITH MCC | 551 | $126,774 | $63,387 | — | 11.8x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $135,268 | $67,634 | — | 11.8x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $131,969 | $65,984 | — | 11.8x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $74,543 | $37,271 | — | 11.7x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 330 | $179,861 | $89,930 | — | 11.6x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $57,468 | $28,734 | — | 11.5x |
| EXTENSIVE O.R. PROCEDURES UNRELATED TO PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH MCC | 981 | $389,636 | $194,818 | — | 11.4x |
Showing 50 of 117 procedures
How ST DAVID'S SOUTH AUSTIN 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