University of Colorado Hospital Authority
University of Colorado Hospital Authority in Aurora charges 8.4x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 186 analyzed procedures, with 35% showing significant price variations.
Aurora, CO 80045 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 5/5
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
F
Very high
Avg markup vs Medicare
8.37x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
15.69x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
186
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
34.9%
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 | $414,389 | $207,195 | — | 15.7x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH CC | 292 | $94,395 | $47,197 | — | 13.3x |
| DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITH MCC | 056 | $290,285 | $145,142 | — | 13.2x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $104,745 | $52,373 | — | 12.6x |
| OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC | 206 | $109,063 | $54,531 | — | 12.3x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $93,319 | $46,659 | — | 12.2x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $499,166 | $249,583 | — | 12.2x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $237,196 | $118,598 | — | 11.9x |
| NONSPECIFIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS WITH MCC | 070 | $175,231 | $87,615 | — | 11.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $100,686 | $50,343 | — | 11.8x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH MCC | 659 | $279,644 | $139,822 | — | 11.8x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH CC | 660 | $142,294 | $71,147 | — | 11.7x |
| ORGANIC DISTURBANCES AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY | 884 | $153,722 | $76,861 | — | 11.2x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $86,794 | $43,397 | — | 11.2x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $132,753 | $66,376 | — | 11.2x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH CC | 083 | $126,121 | $63,061 | — | 10.9x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $118,854 | $59,427 | — | 10.9x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITHOUT CC/MCC | 661 | $100,006 | $50,003 | — | 10.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $212,310 | $106,155 | — | 10.6x |
| POSTOPERATIVE AND POST-TRAUMATIC INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 862 | $206,384 | $103,192 | — | 10.5x |
| NON-EXTENSIVE O.R. PROCEDURES UNRELATED TO PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITH CC | 988 | $144,397 | $72,199 | — | 10.4x |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WITHOUT MCC | 948 | $70,190 | $35,095 | — | 10.4x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $93,337 | $46,668 | — | 10.4x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NEOPLASM WITH MCC | 656 | $522,803 | $261,402 | — | 10.4x |
| PANCREAS, LIVER AND SHUNT PROCEDURES WITH CC | 406 | $268,237 | $134,118 | — | 10.3x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 393 | $147,541 | $73,771 | — | 10.2x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $73,950 | $36,975 | — | 10.2x |
| CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 074 | $84,064 | $42,032 | — | 10.1x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH MCC | 444 | $171,725 | $85,862 | — | 10.1x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $138,243 | $69,122 | — | 10.1x |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITHOUT MCC | 176 | $72,770 | $36,385 | — | 10x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $211,287 | $105,644 | — | 10x |
| SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE | 312 | $72,027 | $36,014 | — | 10x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC | 640 | $114,316 | $57,158 | — | 10x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $257,791 | $128,896 | — | 10x |
| PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS WITH CC | 300 | $92,081 | $46,041 | — | 10x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $89,101 | $44,551 | — | 10x |
| OTHER MAJOR CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 271 | $330,147 | $165,074 | — | 9.8x |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITH MCC OR ACUTE COR PULMONALE | 175 | $116,050 | $58,025 | — | 9.8x |
| MYELOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS OR POORLY DIFFERENTIATED NEOPLASMS WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDUR | 827 | $210,123 | $105,061 | — | 9.7x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 394 | $81,010 | $40,505 | — | 9.6x |
| MAJOR HEMATOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES EXCEPT SICKLE CELL CRISIS AND COAGULATIO | 809 | $113,418 | $56,709 | — | 9.5x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH MCC | 082 | $193,938 | $96,969 | — | 9.5x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $61,662 | $30,831 | — | 9.5x |
| OTHER O.R. PROCEDURES FOR INJURIES WITH MCC | 907 | $335,509 | $167,754 | — | 9.5x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $150,521 | $75,261 | — | 9.4x |
| UTERINE AND ADNEXA PROCEDURES FOR NON-MALIGNANCY WITHOUT CC/MCC | 743 | $88,286 | $44,143 | — | 9.4x |
| ENDOCRINE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 643 | $136,765 | $68,383 | — | 9.4x |
| DIABETES WITH MCC | 637 | $114,472 | $57,236 | — | 9.4x |
| DIGESTIVE MALIGNANCY WITH MCC | 374 | $162,739 | $81,370 | — | 9.3x |
Showing 50 of 186 procedures
How UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HOSPITAL AUTHORITY 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