University Hospital S U N Y Health Science Center
University Hospital SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, NY charges 7.9x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 141 analyzed procedures, with 19% showing significant pricing variations.
Syracuse, NY 13210 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 2/5
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.
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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
D
High
Avg markup vs Medicare
7.94x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
16.53x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
141
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
19.1%
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 | $332,860 | $166,430 | — | 16.5x |
| ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE OR DEPENDENCE WITHOUT REHABILITATION THERAPY WITHOUT MCC | 897 | $65,476 | $32,738 | — | 14.6x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $249,723 | $124,861 | — | 13.8x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $43,238 | $21,619 | — | 11.9x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $378,354 | $189,177 | — | 11.8x |
| RESPIRATORY NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 180 | $154,541 | $77,271 | — | 11.6x |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WITHOUT MCC | 948 | $79,979 | $39,989 | — | 11.5x |
| HYPERTENSION WITHOUT MCC | 305 | $62,615 | $31,308 | — | 11.2x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $60,980 | $30,490 | — | 11x |
| CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 074 | $89,204 | $44,602 | — | 11x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC | 184 | $74,890 | $37,445 | — | 10.9x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $56,686 | $28,343 | — | 10.6x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $68,303 | $34,151 | — | 10.3x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $76,988 | $38,494 | — | 10.3x |
| DIGESTIVE MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 375 | $89,232 | $44,616 | — | 10.3x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $68,984 | $34,492 | — | 10.2x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $75,954 | $37,977 | — | 10.1x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $73,450 | $36,725 | — | 10x |
| FRACTURES OF HIP AND PELVIS WITHOUT MCC | 536 | $87,555 | $43,778 | — | 10x |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 543 | $82,957 | $41,479 | — | 10x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $74,241 | $37,121 | — | 9.8x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH MCC | 435 | $163,912 | $81,956 | — | 9.8x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 390 | $36,072 | $18,036 | — | 9.8x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $58,789 | $29,395 | — | 9.8x |
| BONE DISEASES AND ARTHROPATHIES WITHOUT MCC | 554 | $54,557 | $27,279 | — | 9.7x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 066 | $45,357 | $22,678 | — | 9.6x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $76,664 | $38,332 | — | 9.6x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC | 280 | $160,487 | $80,244 | — | 9.4x |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE WITHOUT MCC | 556 | $53,298 | $26,649 | — | 9.4x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH CC | 292 | $64,248 | $32,124 | — | 9.3x |
| ENDOCRINE DISORDERS WITH CC | 644 | $79,554 | $39,777 | — | 9.3x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $72,691 | $36,346 | — | 9.3x |
| MALIGNANCY OF HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM OR PANCREAS WITH CC | 436 | $81,586 | $40,793 | — | 9.2x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $102,554 | $51,277 | — | 9.2x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH CC | 660 | $99,076 | $49,538 | — | 9.2x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $55,667 | $27,833 | — | 9.1x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 441 | $165,847 | $82,923 | — | 9.1x |
| CELLULITIS WITHOUT MCC | 603 | $58,177 | $29,088 | — | 9.1x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITHOUT MCC | 125 | $55,927 | $27,964 | — | 9x |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 439 | $54,657 | $27,328 | — | 9x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH MCC | 682 | $98,448 | $49,224 | — | 8.9x |
| FRACTURE, SPRAIN, STRAIN AND DISLOCATION EXCEPT FEMUR, HIP, PELVIS AND THIGH WITHOUT MCC | 563 | $56,107 | $28,054 | — | 8.8x |
| DIABETES WITH CC | 638 | $59,285 | $29,643 | — | 8.8x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $109,716 | $54,858 | — | 8.7x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $60,484 | $30,242 | — | 8.7x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH MCC | 388 | $100,661 | $50,331 | — | 8.7x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $66,070 | $33,035 | — | 8.6x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH CC | 445 | $81,959 | $40,979 | — | 8.6x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC | 308 | $107,715 | $53,858 | — | 8.5x |
| COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH MCC | 919 | $160,934 | $80,467 | — | 8.5x |
Showing 50 of 141 procedures
How UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL S U N Y HEALTH SCIENCE 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.
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