Trident Medical Center
TRIDENT MEDICAL CENTER in Charleston, SC charges 13.0x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average, with 45% of analyzed procedures showing significant price variations.
Charleston, SC 29406 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5
About the analyst
Kevin Nyk analyzes hospital pricing data at BillRazor Research. He specializes in Medicare reimbursement patterns and chargemaster pricing across U.S. hospitals. Expertise: hospital pricing, Medicare rates, chargemaster analysis.
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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
12.98x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
27.9x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
130
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
45.4%
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 INTRALUMINAL DEVICE WITHOUT MCC | 322 | $313,131 | $156,566 | — | 27.9x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITHOUT CC/MCC | 244 | $309,649 | $154,825 | — | 26.4x |
| TRACHEOSTOMY WITH MV >96 HOURS OR PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS EXCEPT FACE, MOUTH AND NECK WITHOU | 004 | $1,307,061 | $653,530 | — | 25.5x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $279,151 | $139,576 | — | 23.5x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITH CC | 243 | $341,824 | $170,912 | — | 21.9x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH INTRALUMINAL DEVICE WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES/ | 321 | $391,296 | $195,648 | — | 20.1x |
| TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC | 012 | $546,493 | $273,247 | — | 19.9x |
| PERMANENT CARDIAC PACEMAKER IMPLANT WITH MCC | 242 | $451,791 | $225,895 | — | 19.7x |
| LOWER EXTREMITY AND HUMERUS PROCEDURES EXCEPT HIP, FOOT AND FEMUR WITH CC | 493 | $245,839 | $122,919 | — | 19.4x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $391,032 | $195,516 | — | 19.2x |
| TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC | 011 | $679,163 | $339,582 | — | 19x |
| MAJOR HEAD AND NECK PROCEDURES WITH CC | 141 | $243,924 | $121,962 | — | 18.4x |
| FRACTURE, SPRAIN, STRAIN AND DISLOCATION EXCEPT FEMUR, HIP, PELVIS AND THIGH WITHOUT MCC | 563 | $93,802 | $46,901 | — | 17.8x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $101,471 | $50,735 | — | 17.1x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 390 | $58,743 | $29,372 | — | 16.8x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $143,024 | $71,512 | — | 16.6x |
| OTHER MAJOR CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 271 | $364,201 | $182,101 | — | 16.2x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH CC | 086 | $135,381 | $67,691 | — | 15.9x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITHOUT CC/MCC | 482 | $153,397 | $76,699 | — | 15.6x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $90,879 | $45,440 | — | 15.6x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH CC | 418 | $150,315 | $75,157 | — | 15.1x |
| DYSEQUILIBRIUM | 149 | $68,420 | $34,210 | — | 14.9x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $75,382 | $37,691 | — | 14.9x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $236,561 | $118,281 | — | 14.9x |
| PERCUTANEOUS AND OTHER INTRACARDIAC PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 273 | $394,788 | $197,394 | — | 14.7x |
| MAJOR HIP AND KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT OR REATTACHMENT OF LOWER EXTREMITY WITHOUT MCC | 470 | $176,168 | $88,084 | — | 14.7x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH MCC | 417 | $241,015 | $120,508 | — | 14.5x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH CC | 445 | $104,397 | $52,198 | — | 14.4x |
| RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS WITH VENTILATOR SUPPORT <=96 HOURS | 208 | $252,641 | $126,320 | — | 14.4x |
| CRANIOTOMY AND ENDOVASCULAR INTRACRANIAL PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 025 | $399,943 | $199,972 | — | 14.3x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION OR OPEN ABLATION WITH MCC | 233 | $702,305 | $351,152 | — | 14.3x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 854 | $173,493 | $86,746 | — | 14.1x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 391 | $111,946 | $55,973 | — | 14.1x |
| LIMB REATTACHMENT, HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES FOR MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA | 956 | $294,593 | $147,297 | — | 14.1x |
| OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 516 | $180,035 | $90,018 | — | 14x |
| EXTRACRANIAL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 038 | $140,608 | $70,304 | — | 14x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH MCC | 193 | $115,072 | $57,536 | — | 13.9x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITHOUT CC/MCC | 282 | $56,525 | $28,262 | — | 13.9x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $78,479 | $39,239 | — | 13.9x |
| PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS WITH MCC | 299 | $116,022 | $58,011 | — | 13.8x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 235 | $485,618 | $242,809 | — | 13.8x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH MCC | 085 | $194,521 | $97,260 | — | 13.8x |
| EXTRACRANIAL PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 039 | $101,042 | $50,521 | — | 13.7x |
| PERCUTANEOUS AND OTHER INTRACARDIAC PROCEDURES WITHOUT MCC | 274 | $290,397 | $145,198 | — | 13.7x |
| SPINAL FUSION EXCEPT CERVICAL WITHOUT MCC | 460 | $297,928 | $148,964 | — | 13.6x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $155,273 | $77,636 | — | 13.6x |
| OTHER O.R. PROCEDURES FOR INJURIES WITH MCC | 907 | $386,818 | $193,409 | — | 13.5x |
| TRANSIENT ISCHEMIA WITHOUT THROMBOLYTIC | 069 | $69,284 | $34,642 | — | 13.5x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $81,262 | $40,631 | — | 13.4x |
| HIP REPLACEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS OF HIP FRACTURE WITHOUT MCC | 522 | $181,179 | $90,589 | — | 13.2x |
Showing 50 of 130 procedures
How TRIDENT 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