The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital
The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital in Aurora, Colorado charges 13.7x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 61 analyzed procedures, with 80% showing significant price variations.
Aurora, CO 80012 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5
About the analyst
David Park researches procedure pricing and insurance reimbursement patterns at BillRazor Research. He specializes in cost comparison across care settings and metropolitan areas. Expertise: procedure pricing, insurance reimbursement, cost comparison.
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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
13.65x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
20.12x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
61
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
80.3%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELLULITIS WITHOUT MCC | 603 | $100,929 | $50,464 | — | 20.1x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $219,073 | $109,536 | — | 17.7x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $249,782 | $124,891 | — | 17.6x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $86,900 | $43,450 | — | 17.5x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $96,494 | $48,247 | — | 17.5x |
| REVISION OF HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT WITHOUT CC/MCC | 468 | $317,483 | $158,742 | — | 17.4x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $79,976 | $39,988 | — | 17.4x |
| MAJOR HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT OR REATTACHMENT OF LOWER EXTREMITY WITHOUT MCC | 470 | $205,591 | $102,795 | — | 17.3x |
| PERCUTANEOUS AND OTHER INTRACARDIAC PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 274 | $413,944 | $206,972 | — | 17.2x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $104,798 | $52,399 | — | 16.6x |
| ENDOVASCULAR CARDIAC VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 267 | $635,183 | $317,591 | — | 16.4x |
| HIP REPLACEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS OF HIP FRACTURE WITHOUT MCC | 522 | $237,474 | $118,737 | — | 16.3x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH MCC | 085 | $188,277 | $94,138 | — | 16.3x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $309,196 | $154,598 | — | 16x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 220 | $599,135 | $299,568 | — | 15.9x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $108,736 | $54,368 | — | 15.8x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITH MCC | 811 | $159,157 | $79,579 | — | 15.6x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $75,015 | $37,508 | — | 15.6x |
| MAJOR CHEST PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 165 | $197,475 | $98,738 | — | 15.5x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 219 | $861,758 | $430,879 | — | 15.4x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 329 | $507,477 | $253,739 | — | 15.3x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $103,191 | $51,595 | — | 15.1x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 854 | $182,203 | $91,101 | — | 15x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $213,218 | $106,609 | — | 14.9x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $97,073 | $48,537 | — | 14.8x |
| OTHER KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 699 | $99,250 | $49,625 | — | 14.6x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH MCC | 291 | $133,904 | $66,952 | — | 14.5x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $77,990 | $38,995 | — | 14.4x |
| OTHER KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 698 | $153,246 | $76,623 | — | 14.3x |
| REVISION OF HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT WITH CC | 467 | $322,973 | $161,486 | — | 14.1x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $77,477 | $38,738 | — | 13.9x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC | 640 | $125,975 | $62,987 | — | 13.8x |
| RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS WITH VENTILATOR SUPPORT <=96 HOURS | 208 | $237,399 | $118,699 | — | 13.7x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $78,707 | $39,353 | — | 13.5x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 689 | $104,020 | $52,010 | — | 13.3x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 853 | $455,368 | $227,684 | — | 13.2x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH MCC | 480 | $251,913 | $125,957 | — | 13x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $202,107 | $101,054 | — | 13x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITH MCC | 551 | $145,018 | $72,509 | — | 12.8x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $109,174 | $54,587 | — | 12.7x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITH MCC | 871 | $171,538 | $85,769 | — | 12.7x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC | 308 | $110,077 | $55,038 | — | 12.6x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $148,691 | $74,346 | — | 12.5x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC | 280 | $124,144 | $62,072 | — | 12.3x |
| COMBINED ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR SPINAL FUSION WITH CC | 454 | $502,854 | $251,427 | — | 12.2x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH MCC | 193 | $106,748 | $53,374 | — | 12x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $73,803 | $36,902 | — | 12x |
| ORGANIC DISTURBANCES AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY | 884 | $123,844 | $61,922 | — | 11.6x |
| COMBINED ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR SPINAL FUSION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 455 | $406,800 | $203,400 | — | 11.6x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH MCC | 377 | $144,188 | $72,094 | — | 11.5x |
Showing 50 of 61 procedures
How THE MEDICAL CENTER OF AURORA & SOUTH 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.
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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