University of Kentucky Hospital
University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington charges 6.0x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average across 161 analyzed procedures at this government-owned medical facility.
Lexington, KY 40536 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 4/5
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
6.04x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
16.07x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
161
With pricing data
Outlier procedures
0%
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 | $264,248 | $132,124 | — | 16.1x |
| NONSPECIFIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS WITH CC | 071 | $74,280 | $37,140 | — | 12.3x |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH MCC | 190 | $71,150 | $35,575 | — | 10.3x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH CC | 184 | $66,932 | $33,466 | — | 10.2x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 066 | $42,557 | $21,278 | — | 9.7x |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 439 | $48,185 | $24,093 | — | 9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH CC OR TPA IN 24 HOURS | 065 | $69,704 | $34,852 | — | 8.9x |
| PNEUMOTHORAX WITH CC | 200 | $64,234 | $32,117 | — | 8.8x |
| RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND INFLAMMATIONS WITH CC | 178 | $62,303 | $31,152 | — | 8.7x |
| INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES WITH O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 854 | $105,111 | $52,555 | — | 8.3x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM O.R. PROCEDURES | 264 | $191,439 | $95,720 | — | 8.2x |
| COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH CC | 920 | $58,698 | $29,349 | — | 8.2x |
| OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 205 | $137,798 | $68,899 | — | 8.1x |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 543 | $60,538 | $30,269 | — | 8.1x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 812 | $58,172 | $29,086 | — | 8x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $81,795 | $40,897 | — | 8x |
| PNEUMOTHORAX WITH MCC | 199 | $91,115 | $45,558 | — | 8x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $47,825 | $23,912 | — | 7.7x |
| MAJOR CHEST TRAUMA WITH MCC | 183 | $82,919 | $41,459 | — | 7.7x |
| OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC | 516 | $108,558 | $54,279 | — | 7.6x |
| OTHER O.R. PROCEDURES FOR INJURIES WITH CC | 908 | $106,464 | $53,232 | — | 7.6x |
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH CC | 418 | $76,421 | $38,210 | — | 7.5x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $25,352 | $12,676 | — | 7.4x |
| CRANIOTOMY WITH MAJOR DEVICE IMPLANT OR ACUTE COMPLEX CNS PRINCIPAL DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT MC | 024 | $184,670 | $92,335 | — | 7.3x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $88,970 | $44,485 | — | 7.3x |
| SEPTICEMIA OR SEVERE SEPSIS WITHOUT MV >96 HOURS WITHOUT MCC | 872 | $50,830 | $25,415 | — | 7.3x |
| DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH CC | 445 | $58,927 | $29,463 | — | 7.3x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE WITH CC | 378 | $45,245 | $22,623 | — | 7.2x |
| TRAUMA TO THE SKIN, SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE AND BREAST WITHOUT MCC | 605 | $44,250 | $22,125 | — | 7.2x |
| MAJOR HEAD AND NECK PROCEDURES WITH CC | 141 | $94,042 | $47,021 | — | 7.2x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITH MCC | 689 | $65,209 | $32,604 | — | 7.1x |
| DIABETES WITH CC | 638 | $42,182 | $21,091 | — | 7.1x |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM NEOPLASMS WITH MCC | 054 | $83,356 | $41,678 | — | 7x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITH MCC | 811 | $94,579 | $47,289 | — | 7x |
| OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC | 963 | $172,790 | $86,395 | — | 7x |
| SPINAL PROCEDURES WITH CC OR SPINAL NEUROSTIMULATORS | 029 | $171,241 | $85,621 | — | 7x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $46,868 | $23,434 | — | 6.9x |
| POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS WITH MCC | 917 | $91,188 | $45,594 | — | 6.9x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITH MCC | 064 | $96,525 | $48,262 | — | 6.8x |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH MCC | 438 | $71,797 | $35,898 | — | 6.7x |
| SEIZURES WITHOUT MCC | 101 | $40,205 | $20,102 | — | 6.7x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $40,842 | $20,421 | — | 6.7x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH MCC | 252 | $251,002 | $125,501 | — | 6.7x |
| ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC | 391 | $78,352 | $39,176 | — | 6.7x |
| MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC | 552 | $40,879 | $20,439 | — | 6.6x |
| LOWER EXTREMITY AND HUMERUS PROCEDURES EXCEPT HIP, FOOT AND FEMUR WITH CC | 493 | $108,704 | $54,352 | — | 6.6x |
| HIP AND FEMUR PROCEDURES EXCEPT MAJOR JOINT WITH CC | 481 | $95,334 | $47,667 | — | 6.6x |
| OTHER VASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH CC | 253 | $121,504 | $60,752 | — | 6.6x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC | 091 | $84,139 | $42,070 | — | 6.6x |
| PULMONARY EDEMA AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 189 | $65,430 | $32,715 | — | 6.6x |
Showing 50 of 161 procedures
How UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HOSPITAL 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