St Joseph Medical Center
ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER in Tacoma, WA charges 8.6x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 97 analyzed procedures at this nonprofit religious hospital.
Tacoma, WA 98405 · 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.
No credit card required. Results in 60 seconds.
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
F
Very high
Avg markup vs Medicare
8.61x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
13.97x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
97
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
11.3%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 331 | $167,473 | $83,736 | — | 14x |
| OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS | 951 | $49,886 | $24,943 | — | 13.6x |
| CHEST PAIN | 313 | $58,406 | $29,203 | — | 13.3x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 066 | $53,160 | $26,580 | — | 12.8x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $77,922 | $38,961 | — | 12.1x |
| TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITHOUT THROMBOLYTIC | 069 | $63,706 | $31,853 | — | 12x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $154,959 | $77,480 | — | 11.4x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $52,819 | $26,409 | — | 11.2x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $33,289 | $16,644 | — | 11.1x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $62,756 | $31,378 | — | 11x |
| ORGANIC DISTURBANCES AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY | 884 | $145,448 | $72,724 | — | 10.8x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 330 | $170,727 | $85,364 | — | 10.7x |
| PANCREAS, LIVER AND SHUNT PROCEDURES WITH CC | 406 | $252,756 | $126,378 | — | 10.7x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $142,307 | $71,154 | — | 10.6x |
| STOMACH, ESOPHAGEAL AND DUODENAL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 327 | $255,137 | $127,568 | — | 10.5x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $71,137 | $35,569 | — | 10.4x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $58,629 | $29,314 | — | 10.2x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 391 | $89,948 | $44,974 | — | 10.2x |
| DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 057 | $100,626 | $50,313 | — | 10.1x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $71,446 | $35,723 | — | 10x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH MCC | 183 | $123,708 | $61,854 | — | 10x |
| FRACTURE, SPRAIN, STRAIN AND DISLOCATION EXCEPT FEMUR, HIP, PELVIS AND THIGH WITHOUT MCC | 563 | $60,554 | $30,277 | — | 9.9x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $201,435 | $100,718 | — | 9.9x |
| HYPERTENSION WITHOUT MCC | 305 | $43,796 | $21,898 | — | 9.8x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 236 | $290,515 | $145,257 | — | 9.7x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, EXPIRED WITH MCC | 283 | $147,288 | $73,644 | — | 9.6x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $56,920 | $28,460 | — | 9.6x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITH MCC | 811 | $105,971 | $52,985 | — | 9.5x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $51,780 | $25,890 | — | 9.3x |
| PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS WITH CC | 300 | $69,983 | $34,992 | — | 9.2x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $150,296 | $75,148 | — | 9.2x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 441 | $129,021 | $64,510 | — | 9.1x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $55,625 | $27,813 | — | 9x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $75,472 | $37,736 | — | 9x |
| MAJOR CHEST PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 165 | $127,612 | $63,806 | — | 8.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $66,447 | $33,224 | — | 8.9x |
| PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS WITH MCC | 299 | $106,095 | $53,047 | — | 8.9x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $91,505 | $45,753 | — | 8.9x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $38,587 | $19,293 | — | 8.8x |
| CAROTID ARTERY STENT PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 036 | $111,781 | $55,891 | — | 8.7x |
| MAJOR CHEST PROCEDURES WITH CC | 164 | $152,074 | $76,037 | — | 8.6x |
| AORTIC AND HEART ASSIST PROCEDURES EXCEPT PULSATION BALLOON WITHOUT MCC | 269 | $311,014 | $155,507 | — | 8.5x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $132,550 | $66,275 | — | 8.5x |
| LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH MCC | 840 | $150,164 | $75,082 | — | 8.5x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH MCC | 291 | $82,592 | $41,296 | — | 8.4x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 394 | $47,833 | $23,917 | — | 8.4x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 220 | $365,739 | $182,870 | — | 8.4x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $52,138 | $26,069 | — | 8.3x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 854 | $147,001 | $73,500 | — | 8.3x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH INTRALUMINAL DEVICE WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES/ | 321 | $205,723 | $102,861 | — | 8.3x |
Showing 50 of 97 procedures
How ST JOSEPH 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.
Got a bill from ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER?
Upload your bill and our AI compares every line item against these benchmark prices. Free analysis in 60 seconds. You only pay if we find savings.
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
How do nonprofit religious hospital charges compare to Medicare rates?
What does a 5.4x Medicare markup mean for my medical bills?
Are nonprofit religious hospitals required to offer financial assistance?
How can I find out the actual charges at a specific nonprofit religious hospital?
Related pricing data
Got a bill from St Joseph Medical Center?
Free guides to help you take action
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