UNC Hospitals
UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC charges 3.5x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average across 169 analyzed procedures, according to government-owned facility data.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 5/5
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 — government
Government hospitals in our dataset demonstrate distinct billing patterns compared to other ownership types. With 374 facilities analyzed, these hospitals show an average markup of 4.2x Medicare rates, which typically falls below the industry average for comparable services. Government hospitals often maintain more standardized pricing structures due to regulatory oversight and public accountability requirements. Patients may encounter charges above the benchmark for certain procedures, though the potential difference between government hospital billing and private facilities can vary significantly by service type and geographic region. Common charge patterns include transparent itemization of services and adherence to established fee schedules. Patients should be aware that government hospitals frequently offer financial assistance programs and sliding scale payment options based on income eligibility. These facilities often provide detailed cost estimates upon request and maintain patient financial counselors to discuss billing arrangements before treatment when possible.
Pricing grade
C
Average
Avg markup vs Medicare
3.51x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
8.54x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
169
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
0.6%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT | 652 | $223,208 | $111,604 | — | 8.5x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $106,712 | $53,356 | — | 6.2x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $227,580 | $113,790 | — | 5.4x |
| LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH CC | 841 | $71,865 | $35,933 | — | 5.3x |
| OTHER O.R. PROCEDURES FOR INJURIES WITH CC | 908 | $82,211 | $41,106 | — | 5.3x |
| OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 205 | $77,005 | $38,502 | — | 5x |
| DIABETES WITH MCC | 637 | $64,784 | $32,392 | — | 4.9x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $99,934 | $49,967 | — | 4.9x |
| INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE WITH MCC | 196 | $86,990 | $43,495 | — | 4.8x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $54,519 | $27,260 | — | 4.7x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $38,769 | $19,384 | — | 4.7x |
| POSTOPERATIVE AND POST-TRAUMATIC INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 862 | $73,789 | $36,894 | — | 4.7x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC | 184 | $42,889 | $21,444 | — | 4.6x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 314 | $95,167 | $47,584 | — | 4.6x |
| RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND INFLAMMATIONS WITH CC | 178 | $45,129 | $22,564 | — | 4.6x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $42,518 | $21,259 | — | 4.6x |
| HEART TRANSPLANT OR IMPLANT OF HEART ASSIST SYSTEM WITH MCC | 001 | $1,527,723 | $763,861 | — | 4.4x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $79,441 | $39,720 | — | 4.4x |
| CHEMOTHERAPY WITHOUT ACUTE LEUKEMIA AS SECONDARY DIAGNOSIS WITH CC | 847 | $72,951 | $36,475 | — | 4.4x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 441 | $77,838 | $38,919 | — | 4.3x |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 543 | $43,562 | $21,781 | — | 4.3x |
| CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 074 | $49,072 | $24,536 | — | 4.3x |
| RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS WITH VENTILATOR SUPPORT >96 HOURS | 207 | $282,299 | $141,150 | — | 4.3x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA <1 HOUR WITH MCC | 085 | $99,107 | $49,554 | — | 4.3x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC | 442 | $33,095 | $16,548 | — | 4.3x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $35,483 | $17,742 | — | 4.2x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $32,231 | $16,116 | — | 4.2x |
| ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE OR DEPENDENCE WITHOUT REHABILITATION THERAPY WITHOUT MCC | 897 | $35,689 | $17,844 | — | 4.2x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $38,536 | $19,268 | — | 4.2x |
| ORGANIC DISTURBANCES AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY | 884 | $81,980 | $40,990 | — | 4.2x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $35,327 | $17,663 | — | 4.2x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $52,829 | $26,414 | — | 4.2x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 390 | $23,280 | $11,640 | — | 4.1x |
| COAGULATION DISORDERS | 813 | $179,761 | $89,880 | — | 4.1x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH CC | 445 | $43,348 | $21,674 | — | 4x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH MCC | 377 | $76,392 | $38,196 | — | 4x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $66,026 | $33,013 | — | 4x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $66,739 | $33,370 | — | 3.9x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 393 | $63,498 | $31,749 | — | 3.9x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH CC | 660 | $46,872 | $23,436 | — | 3.9x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC | 280 | $64,212 | $32,106 | — | 3.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 066 | $28,023 | $14,012 | — | 3.9x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH MCC | 193 | $46,787 | $23,394 | — | 3.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $36,004 | $18,002 | — | 3.9x |
| PLEURAL EFFUSION WITH MCC | 186 | $54,253 | $27,127 | — | 3.9x |
| RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS WITH VENTILATOR SUPPORT <=96 HOURS | 208 | $102,013 | $51,006 | — | 3.9x |
| RESPIRATORY NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 180 | $56,090 | $28,045 | — | 3.8x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $29,444 | $14,722 | — | 3.8x |
| TRACHEOSTOMY WITH MV >96 HOURS OR PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS EXCEPT FACE, MOUTH AND NECK WITHOU | 004 | $611,114 | $305,557 | — | 3.8x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITH MCC | 871 | $74,879 | $37,440 | — | 3.8x |
Showing 50 of 169 procedures
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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.
FAQ — government hospital billing
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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