University of Washington Medical Ctr
University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle charges 4.7x the Medicare reimbursement rate on average across 191 analyzed procedures, reflecting typical pricing patterns for government-owned hospitals.
Seattle, WA 98195 · Acute Care Hospitals · CMS Rating: 3/5
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
C
Average
Avg markup vs Medicare
4.72x
Charge / Medicare rate
Max markup
11.57x
Worst procedure
Procedures analyzed
191
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT C.D.E. WITH MCC | 417 | $194,128 | $97,064 | — | 11.6x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT | 652 | $286,389 | $143,194 | — | 11.2x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITHOUT MCC | 651 | $326,545 | $163,273 | — | 10.1x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 287 | $80,690 | $40,345 | — | 9.1x |
| CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC | 074 | $83,117 | $41,558 | — | 8.7x |
| KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH HEMODIALYSIS WITH MCC | 650 | $323,569 | $161,784 | — | 8x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 331 | $89,374 | $44,687 | — | 7.4x |
| CORONARY BYPASS WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITHOUT MCC | 236 | $205,812 | $102,906 | — | 7.2x |
| MAJOR HEAD AND NECK PROCEDURES WITH CC | 141 | $175,686 | $87,843 | — | 7.2x |
| LUNG TRANSPLANT | 007 | $754,572 | $377,286 | — | 6.9x |
| SKIN GRAFT EXCEPT FOR SKIN ULCER OR CELLULITIS WITH CC | 577 | $152,554 | $76,277 | — | 6.6x |
| ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, DISCHARGED ALIVE WITH CC | 281 | $47,631 | $23,816 | — | 6.3x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITHOUT CC/MCC | 310 | $24,083 | $12,042 | — | 6.2x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITHOUT MCC | 247 | $103,293 | $51,647 | — | 6.2x |
| ADRENAL AND PITUITARY PROCEDURES WITH CC/MCC | 614 | $112,180 | $56,090 | — | 6.1x |
| MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC | 641 | $40,014 | $20,007 | — | 6.1x |
| PERCUTANEOUS CARDIOVASCULAR PROCEDURES WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENT WITH MCC OR 4+ ARTERIES O | 246 | $179,016 | $89,508 | — | 6x |
| RED BLOOD CELL DISORDERS WITH MCC | 811 | $70,112 | $35,056 | — | 6x |
| ATHEROSCLEROSIS WITHOUT MCC | 303 | $32,421 | $16,211 | — | 5.9x |
| PLEURAL EFFUSION WITH MCC | 186 | $80,010 | $40,005 | — | 5.9x |
| SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WITHOUT MCC | 948 | $36,717 | $18,358 | — | 5.9x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC | 442 | $43,703 | $21,852 | — | 5.9x |
| WOUND DEBRIDEMENT AND SKIN GRAFT EXCEPT HAND FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE D | 464 | $151,261 | $75,630 | — | 5.8x |
| CIRCULATORY DISORDERS EXCEPT AMI, WITH CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WITH MCC | 286 | $113,141 | $56,571 | — | 5.8x |
| LIVER TRANSPLANT WITH MCC OR INTESTINAL TRANSPLANT | 005 | $567,198 | $283,599 | — | 5.8x |
| INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OR CEREBRAL INFARCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC | 066 | $28,795 | $14,398 | — | 5.7x |
| MAJOR SMALL AND LARGE BOWEL PROCEDURES WITH CC | 330 | $106,665 | $53,332 | — | 5.7x |
| KIDNEY AND URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS WITHOUT MCC | 690 | $33,677 | $16,838 | — | 5.6x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH MCC | 659 | $175,961 | $87,981 | — | 5.6x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITH CC | 660 | $65,419 | $32,709 | — | 5.6x |
| UTERINE AND ADNEXA PROCEDURES FOR OVARIAN OR ADNEXAL MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 737 | $100,904 | $50,452 | — | 5.6x |
| CARDIAC VALVE AND OTHER MAJOR CARDIOTHORACIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION | 220 | $256,533 | $128,266 | — | 5.5x |
| MAJOR JOINT OR LIMB REATTACHMENT PROCEDURES OF UPPER EXTREMITIES | 483 | $107,575 | $53,787 | — | 5.5x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NON-NEOPLASM WITHOUT CC/MCC | 661 | $49,116 | $24,558 | — | 5.4x |
| HEART FAILURE AND SHOCK WITH CC | 292 | $38,650 | $19,325 | — | 5.4x |
| DISORDERS OF PANCREAS EXCEPT MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 439 | $38,702 | $19,351 | — | 5.4x |
| OTHER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 315 | $42,768 | $21,384 | — | 5.3x |
| GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC | 389 | $34,050 | $17,025 | — | 5.3x |
| CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE WITH CC | 191 | $34,913 | $17,457 | — | 5.3x |
| OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE O.R. PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 517 | $67,465 | $33,733 | — | 5.3x |
| PULMONARY EMBOLISM WITHOUT MCC | 176 | $33,817 | $16,908 | — | 5.3x |
| CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA AND CONDUCTION DISORDERS WITH MCC | 308 | $58,180 | $29,090 | — | 5.3x |
| KIDNEY AND URETER PROCEDURES FOR NEOPLASM WITH MCC | 656 | $130,418 | $65,209 | — | 5.3x |
| RENAL FAILURE WITH CC | 683 | $36,137 | $18,069 | — | 5.2x |
| OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC | 092 | $58,919 | $29,460 | — | 5.2x |
| DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC | 441 | $80,272 | $40,136 | — | 5.1x |
| BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITH CC/MCC | 202 | $38,216 | $19,108 | — | 5.1x |
| PANCREAS, LIVER AND SHUNT PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 407 | $98,762 | $49,381 | — | 5.1x |
| PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE MALIGNANCY WITH CC | 543 | $43,698 | $21,849 | — | 5.1x |
| MAJOR HEMATOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES EXCEPT SICKLE CELL CRISIS AND COAGULATIO | 808 | $86,852 | $43,426 | — | 5.1x |
Showing 50 of 191 procedures
How UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MEDICAL CTR 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.
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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