Cox Medical Centers: charges and Medicare payments

Cox Medical Centers reported 4,879 Medicare inpatient stays across 146 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.27 times what it was paid — mid-range in Missouri, number 23 of 59 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 3.85×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 435 stays at an average charge of $65,405, 28% below the national average. It also billed 5,754 outpatient services, charging 7.06 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 4,879
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.27×
3Rank in MO (highest ratio = 1) 23 of 59
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at Cox Medical Centers, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 146 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, Cox Medical Centers charged more than the national average in 4 (3%). Payments follow Medicare's rates, so they usually vary far less than charges.

DRG	Stays	Avg charge	vs US	Avg paid
871 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC	435	$65,405	-28%	$15,113
885 Psychoses	190	$22,296	-49%	$10,971
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	128	$47,139	-21%	$10,833
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	111	$42,850	-23%	$8,787
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	106	$44,209	-22%	$10,305
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	99	$21,832	-40%	$6,702
683 Renal Failure with CC	92	$28,903	-29%	$7,809
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	91	$47,005	-22%	$11,027
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	90	$34,834	-29%	$8,874
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	84	$50,814	-28%	$12,775
682 Renal Failure with MCC	74	$44,264	-33%	$11,939
194 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC	73	$27,688	-28%	$7,294
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	72	$33,124	-12%	$7,210
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	70	$25,673	-31%	$7,046
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	67	$29,072	-28%	$7,601
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	62	$93,296	-7%	$17,246
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	61	$149,364	-35%	$34,272
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	59	$41,491	-18%	$9,252
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	58	$64,908	-35%	$16,095
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	56	$32,786	-32%	$8,418
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	54	$46,704	-18%	$9,892
266 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	53	$180,699	-37%	$42,609
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	52	$77,899	-35%	$18,280
455 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion without CC/MCC	52	$116,434	-43%	$35,704
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	52	$77,821	-24%	$17,315
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	50	$156,427	-27%	$34,249
603 Cellulitis without MCC	50	$28,774	-23%	$7,871
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	49	$112,504	-28%	$24,485
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	43	$136,508	-41%	$30,293
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	42	$138,876	-34%	$29,730
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	42	$102,204	-11%	$13,961
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	41	$34,355	-33%	$9,370
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	40	$57,018	-1%	$10,961
310 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders without CC/MCC	40	$18,652	-35%	$5,710
178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC	37	$31,620	-30%	$8,361
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	36	$168,785	-24%	$33,518
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	36	$37,039	-24%	$8,237
638 Diabetes with CC	36	$34,431	-17%	$8,573
066 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction without...	34	$34,777	-18%	$6,399
191 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with CC	34	$27,801	-30%	$7,796
660 Kidney and Ureter Procedures for Non-Neoplasm with CC	34	$50,175	-26%	$11,422
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	33	$40,621	-46%	$12,044
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	33	$68,866	-19%	$13,864
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	32	$133,989	-1%	$22,263
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	31	$37,072	-27%	$7,953
305 Hypertension without MCC	31	$32,563	-19%	$6,814
253 Other Vascular Procedures with CC	30	$85,174	-35%	$19,234
036 Carotid Artery Stent Procedures without CC/MCC	28	$64,752	-27%	$13,686
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	28	$46,026	-29%	$10,806
312 Syncope and Collapse	28	$34,575	-24%	$7,838
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	28	$49,369	-33%	$12,423
163 Major Chest Procedures with MCC	27	$151,804	-28%	$34,214
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	27	$117,327	-31%	$24,304
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	26	$37,809	-41%	$9,025
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	26	$33,321	-29%	$8,107
637 Diabetes with MCC	26	$42,789	-36%	$11,154
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	25	$99,604	-22%	$19,292
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	25	$132,093	-53%	$48,186
493 Lower Extremity and Humerus Procedures except Hip, Foot and...	25	$87,273	-27%	$19,084
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	24	$26,745	-31%	$7,086

Showing the 60 most frequent of 146 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Comprehensive Observation Services	428	$18,768	$2,276
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	418	$9,710	$1,603
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	391	$48,954	$10,956
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	360	$8,465	$1,344
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	271	$10,154	$1,586
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	266	$24,695	$2,875
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	250	$20,627	$2,729
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	247	$27,442	$4,309
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	232	$33,935	$5,928
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	205	$12,900	$1,952
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	199	$36,645	$4,797
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	189	$17,510	$2,505
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	151	$16,864	$2,689
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	145	$123,339	$19,485
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	132	$70,039	$9,175
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	122	$51,598	$8,435
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	121	$13,705	$2,338
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	100	$14,409	$1,545
Level 4 Endovascular Procedures	86	$86,488	$14,033
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	85	$62,395	$15,474
Level 5 ENT Procedures	83	$30,684	$4,877
Level 2 Musculoskeletal Procedures	82	$10,886	$1,325
Level 5 Neurostimulator and Related Procedures	77	$110,512	$25,731
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	76	$37,935	$5,426
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	72	$29,839	$4,753

Against the Missouri average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), Cox Medical Centers charged $65,405 on average, 10% less than the Missouri average of $72,886, and was paid $15,113 against a state average of $15,808. For Psychoses (DRG 885), Cox Medical Centers charged $22,296 on average, 28% less than the Missouri average of $30,825, and was paid $10,971 against a state average of $12,977. For Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC (DRG 193), Cox Medical Centers charged $47,139 on average, 2% less than the Missouri average of $47,966, and was paid $10,833 against a state average of $10,821. For Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or Tpa in 24 Hours (DRG 065), Cox Medical Centers charged $42,850 on average, 11% less than the Missouri average of $48,379, and was paid $8,787 against a state average of $8,866. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $18,768 was 9% below the state average of $20,571. For Level 1 Nerve Procedures (outpatient APC 5431), its average charge of $9,710 was 8% below the state average of $10,541. For Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5115), its average charge of $48,954 was 6% below the state average of $52,262. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $8,465 was 14% below the state average of $9,865.

Price-transparency record

No action in CMS's price-transparency enforcement list (July 2026) matches this hospital's exact name, city and state. That can mean CMS has not reviewed it, or that it is listed under a different name.

Charges are the hospital's list prices averaged over its 2024 Medicare cases; payments are what those cases actually brought in. Neither is what you will pay. For a planned procedure, ask the hospital for its price estimate or, if you are uninsured or self-paying, a good-faith estimate.

Sources: CMS Medicare Inpatient Hospitals — by Provider and Service / by Geography and Service, data year 2024; CMS Medicare Outpatient Hospitals — by Provider and Service / by Geography and Service, data year 2024; CMS Hospital Price Transparency Enforcement Activities and Outcomes, July 2026. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.