University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in Iowa City charges 6.0x the Medicare reimbursement rate across 186 analyzed procedures at this government-owned medical facility.
Iowa City, IA 52242 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5
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
D
High
Avg markup vs Medicare
6x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
13.4x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
186
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
2.7%
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 | $293,162 | $146,581 | — | 13.4x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $65,146 | $32,573 | — | 11.7x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $77,154 | $38,577 | — | 10.9x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH CC | 292 | $64,745 | $32,373 | — | 10.5x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $67,050 | $33,525 | — | 10.1x |
| PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS WITH CC | 300 | $80,861 | $40,430 | — | 9.8x |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH CC | 191 | $62,400 | $31,200 | — | 9.8x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $123,782 | $61,891 | — | 9.4x |
| DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITH MCC | 056 | $175,876 | $87,938 | — | 9.3x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC | 442 | $55,057 | $27,529 | — | 8.9x |
| PSYCHOSES | 885 | $88,166 | $44,083 | — | 8.9x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $69,932 | $34,966 | — | 8.7x |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WITHOUT MCC | 948 | $44,364 | $22,182 | — | 8.7x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 066 | $43,164 | $21,582 | — | 8.6x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $49,604 | $24,802 | — | 8.6x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $65,019 | $32,510 | — | 8.6x |
| DIABETES WITH CC | 638 | $52,325 | $26,162 | — | 8.5x |
| RESPIRATORY NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 180 | $110,785 | $55,393 | — | 8.3x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $63,219 | $31,610 | — | 8.2x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $81,517 | $40,758 | — | 8.1x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC | 308 | $75,283 | $37,641 | — | 8x |
| FRACTURE, SPRAIN, STRAIN AND DISLOCATION EXCEPT FEMUR, HIP, PELVIS AND THIGH WITHOUT MCC | 563 | $46,877 | $23,438 | — | 7.9x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $56,883 | $28,442 | — | 7.8x |
| NONSPECIFIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS WITH CC | 071 | $62,672 | $31,336 | — | 7.8x |
| OTHER O.R. PROCEDURES FOR INJURIES WITH CC | 908 | $110,974 | $55,487 | — | 7.7x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 689 | $69,321 | $34,661 | — | 7.7x |
| OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC | 964 | $75,043 | $37,521 | — | 7.7x |
| NONSPECIFIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS WITH MCC | 070 | $92,261 | $46,130 | — | 7.6x |
| SEIZURES WITH MCC | 100 | $131,599 | $65,799 | — | 7.6x |
| MAJOR HEMATOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES EXCEPT SICKLE CELL CRISIS AND COAGULATIO | 809 | $72,818 | $36,409 | — | 7.5x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $56,437 | $28,218 | — | 7.5x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH CC | 418 | $89,014 | $44,507 | — | 7.4x |
| SIMPLE PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY WITH CC | 194 | $48,326 | $24,163 | — | 7.4x |
| FRACTURES OF HIP AND PELVIS WITHOUT MCC | 536 | $41,093 | $20,547 | — | 7.3x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $42,799 | $21,400 | — | 7.3x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $46,347 | $23,173 | — | 7.3x |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH MCC | 542 | $99,050 | $49,525 | — | 7.3x |
| MAJOR GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS AND PERITONEAL INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 371 | $104,547 | $52,274 | — | 7.3x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 392 | $37,003 | $18,502 | — | 7.3x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $136,815 | $68,408 | — | 7.2x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $41,068 | $20,534 | — | 7.1x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 391 | $63,317 | $31,659 | — | 7.1x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $78,776 | $39,388 | — | 7x |
| CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 432 | $103,584 | $51,792 | — | 6.9x |
| CELLULITIS WITHOUT MCC | 603 | $42,374 | $21,187 | — | 6.9x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $97,658 | $48,829 | — | 6.9x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH CC | 309 | $37,957 | $18,978 | — | 6.8x |
| TRAUMATIC STUPOR AND COMA >1 HOUR WITH CC | 083 | $72,584 | $36,292 | — | 6.8x |
| OTHER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 395 | $29,375 | $14,687 | — | 6.8x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH MCC | 280 | $86,533 | $43,267 | — | 6.8x |
Showing 50 of 186 procedures
How UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITAL & CLINICS 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