UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR
SAN DIEGO, CA 92103 · Acute Care Hospitals
188 procedures with CMS pricing data · Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary, FY2024
By BillRazor Research · Last updated March 26, 2026 · Methodology
Procedures Analyzed
188
With CMS pricing data
Avg Charge-to-Medicare Ratio
5.7x
Chargemaster ÷ Medicare
CMS Quality Rating
Patient experience & outcomes
Hospital Type
Acute Care Hospitals
Voluntary non-profit - Other
Above 90th Percentile
24%
Compared to CA hospitals
Understanding Your Costs
When you receive a bill from UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR, you are typically seeing the hospital's “chargemaster” rate — its published list price for each service. According to CMS data, UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR lists chargemaster rates that average 5.7x the corresponding Medicare reimbursement amount across 188 procedures with publicly available pricing data (Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary, FY2024).
The median hospital in CA has a chargemaster-to-Medicare ratio of 6.3x, with ratios across the state ranging from 1.7x to 17.6x. At 5.7x, this facility’s average ratio is below the state median. 273 hospitals in CA report pricing data to CMS (Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary).
The procedure with the largest gap between the listed price and Medicare reimbursement at UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR is MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC (DRG 184). The listed chargemaster rate is $126,903, while Medicare reimburses $12,774 for the same procedure — a ratio of 9.9x (Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary, FY2024).
What does this actually mean for your bill? Chargemaster rates are rarely what patients pay. If you have insurance, your insurer has negotiated a separate rate — often 40–60% less than the listed price. If you are uninsured, you may be able to negotiate directly with the hospital or request financial assistance. The chargemaster-to-Medicare ratio is a useful reference point for understanding listed pricing, but it does not represent what most patients will owe out of pocket.
45 of 188 procedures (24%) at this facility have listed rates above the 90th percentile compared to other CA hospitals reporting the same procedure data to CMS (Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary).
UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR is a voluntary non-profit - other acute care hospitals facility with a CMS quality rating of 5/5 stars. Note: CMS quality ratings measure patient outcomes and experience, not pricing. A hospital with high listed prices may provide excellent care, and pricing data alone should not be used to evaluate the quality of a healthcare provider.
Listed Chargemaster Rates vs Medicare Reimbursement — Top Procedures by Ratio
Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary, FY2024. Chargemaster rates are list prices and may not reflect actual patient costs.
Procedure Pricing Lookup
Search for a specific procedure or DRG code to see listed chargemaster rates and Medicare reimbursement amounts.
| Procedure | DRG | Listed Charge | Medicare Reimb. | Ratio | State Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC | 184 | $126,903 | $12,774 | 9.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| ORGANIC DISTURBANCES AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY | 884 | $158,942 | $16,586 | 9.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| FRACTURE, SPRAIN, STRAIN AND DISLOCATION EXCEPT FEMUR, HIP, PELVIS AND THIGH WITHOUT MCC | 563 | $87,618 | $9,764 | 9.0x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| MAJOR MALE PELVIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 708 | $135,085 | $15,860 | 8.5x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT | 652 | $290,744 | $34,169 | 8.5x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH CC | 191 | $86,940 | $10,299 | 8.4x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| PNEUMOTHORAX WITH CC | 200 | $128,792 | $15,281 | 8.4x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| FRACTURES OF HIP AND PELVIS WITHOUT MCC | 536 | $73,702 | $8,932 | 8.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITHOUT MCC | 651 | $322,096 | $39,103 | 8.2x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| OTHER SKIN, SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE AND BREAST PROCEDURES WITH CC | 580 | $138,131 | $17,270 | 8.0x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH CC | 086 | $112,944 | $14,140 | 8.0x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC | 206 | $104,617 | $13,207 | 7.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITH MCC OR ACUTE COR PULMONALE | 175 | $120,223 | $15,393 | 7.8x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NEOPLASM WITH CC | 657 | $165,083 | $21,438 | 7.7x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT MALIGNANCY WITH MCC | 146 | $311,073 | $40,631 | 7.7x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH CC | 083 | $115,283 | $15,147 | 7.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| MYELOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS OR POORLY DIFFERENTIATED NEOPLASMS WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDUR | 827 | $228,921 | $30,124 | 7.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| MAJOR BLADDER PROCEDURES WITH CC | 654 | $236,295 | $31,267 | 7.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH MCC | 190 | $93,106 | $12,353 | 7.5x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| LOWER EXTREMITY AND HUMERUS PROCEDURES EXCEPT HIP, FOOT AND FEMUR WITH CC | 493 | $219,311 | $29,933 | 7.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $136,126 | $18,627 | 7.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $68,655 | $9,402 | 7.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $116,536 | $16,047 | 7.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $78,851 | $11,048 | 7.1x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $129,057 | $18,354 | 7.0x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| TRAUMA TO THE SKIN, SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE AND BREAST WITHOUT MCC | 605 | $74,246 | $10,629 | 7.0x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 543 | $83,963 | $12,067 | 7.0x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| HIP REPLACEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS OF HIP FRACTURE WITHOUT MCC | 522 | $172,104 | $24,803 | 6.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $42,302 | $6,133 | 6.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH CC | 660 | $117,673 | $17,068 | 6.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC | 442 | $77,025 | $11,201 | 6.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $350,772 | $51,010 | 6.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| RESPIRATORY NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 180 | $158,732 | $23,093 | 6.9x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $158,683 | $23,257 | 6.8x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH MCC | 542 | $140,997 | $20,683 | 6.8x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 516 | $159,880 | $23,819 | 6.7x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 390 | $42,861 | $6,419 | 6.7x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH CC | 841 | $117,359 | $17,567 | 6.7x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| EXTENSIVE O.R. PROCEDURES UNRELATED TO PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH CC | 982 | $167,431 | $25,188 | 6.7x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| BACK AND NECK PROCEDURES EXCEPT SPINAL FUSION WITH CC | 519 | $148,219 | $22,329 | 6.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE WITH MCC | 196 | $122,994 | $18,599 | 6.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 439 | $63,995 | $9,677 | 6.6x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| CERVICAL SPINAL FUSION WITH CC | 472 | $242,649 | $37,347 | 6.5x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH CC | 920 | $75,177 | $11,584 | 6.5x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $73,645 | $11,420 | 6.5x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $241,613 | $37,629 | 6.4x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $73,000 | $11,368 | 6.4x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| SPINAL FUSION EXCEPT CERVICAL WITHOUT MCC | 460 | $287,120 | $44,821 | 6.4x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH CC | 194 | $59,609 | $9,440 | 6.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
| BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITH CC/MCC | 202 | $68,736 | $10,943 | 6.3x | 1th | Compare your bill |
Showing 50 of 188 procedures
All data from CMS IPPS Provider Summary, FY2024. Chargemaster rates are list prices and may not reflect actual patient costs.
Statewide Context
Charge-to-Medicare ratio range across CA hospitals
273 hospitals in CA report pricing data to CMS. This facility's average ratio of 5.7x places it at the lower-middle range of the state range (Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary).
What You Can Do
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How it worksData: CMS Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Provider Summary, FY2024. All data is publicly available under federal law (45 CFR Part 180).
Important: Listed chargemaster rates are not what most insured patients pay. Actual costs depend on your insurance plan's negotiated rates, deductibles, and coverage terms. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR
How much does UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR charge compared to Medicare?
According to CMS IPPS data, UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR's listed chargemaster rates average 5.7x the Medicare reimbursement amount across 188 procedures. Chargemaster rates are list prices and are not what most insured patients pay — actual costs depend on insurance negotiations and coverage terms.
What is the most expensive procedure at UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR?
The procedure with the highest chargemaster-to-Medicare ratio at UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR is MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC (DRG 184), with a listed charge of $126,903 compared to Medicare reimbursement of $12,774 — a ratio of 9.9x. Source: CMS IPPS Provider Summary.
Is UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR expensive compared to other CA hospitals?
UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR's average chargemaster-to-Medicare ratio is 5.7x. Ratios vary significantly across CA hospitals. This ratio reflects listed chargemaster prices, not what patients actually pay. CMS quality ratings, which measure patient outcomes and experience, are separate from pricing data.
Where does the pricing data for UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR come from?
All pricing data comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Provider Summary, published under federal price transparency law (45 CFR Part 180). This data is publicly available and updated annually.
How can I check if my bill from UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR is correct?
You can upload your bill to BillRazor for a free comparison against publicly available Medicare reimbursement data. Our system analyzes every line item in 60 seconds. Research suggests 49-80% of hospital bills contain errors, including duplicate charges, incorrect procedure codes, and unbundling.
Does UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR in SAN DIEGO, CA accept Medicare?
UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR is included in the CMS IPPS Provider Summary, which covers Medicare-participating hospitals. For specific coverage questions, contact UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR directly or check with your insurance provider.
Data sourced from CMS IPPS Provider Summary, FY2024. All information is for educational purposes only.