Essentia Health Fargo: charges and Medicare payments

Essentia Health Fargo reported 1,935 Medicare inpatient stays across 63 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 3.11 times what it was paid — among the lower ratios in North Dakota, number 5 of 6 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 3.17×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 282 stays at an average charge of $39,116, 57% below the national average. It also billed 3,764 outpatient services, charging 4.97 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 1,935
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 3.11×
3Rank in ND (highest ratio = 1) 5 of 6
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at Essentia Health Fargo, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 63 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, Essentia Health Fargo charged more than the national average in 0 (0%). 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	282	$39,116	-57%	$14,395
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	180	$27,294	-52%	$9,513
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	68	$26,841	-53%	$9,241
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	60	$27,361	-44%	$7,478
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	53	$101,237	-56%	$36,513
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	50	$72,279	-54%	$23,888
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	47	$24,679	-50%	$7,738
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	41	$50,097	-50%	$15,021
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	40	$29,789	-47%	$9,015
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	38	$26,995	-52%	$7,992
683 Renal Failure with CC	38	$21,301	-48%	$6,749
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	37	$26,015	-56%	$9,676
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	37	$22,496	-44%	$6,178
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	37	$29,226	-60%	$11,977
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	36	$21,316	-44%	$6,017
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	34	$31,950	-55%	$12,128
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	33	$18,812	-48%	$5,772
682 Renal Failure with MCC	31	$32,805	-50%	$10,825
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	30	$48,139	-57%	$15,954
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	30	$67,506	-41%	$13,859
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	29	$135,840	-39%	$34,604
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	29	$33,699	-61%	$13,068
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	28	$24,543	-59%	$9,752
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	26	$39,831	-47%	$12,725
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	26	$90,115	-45%	$20,927
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	26	$52,371	-49%	$16,083
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	24	$38,990	-39%	$8,567
039 Extracranial Procedures without CC/MCC	23	$34,930	-45%	$8,537
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	23	$46,838	-53%	$14,197
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	20	$66,075	-44%	$21,868
603 Cellulitis without MCC	20	$21,465	-42%	$6,724
038 Extracranial Procedures with CC	19	$50,308	-43%	$12,991
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	19	$104,276	-51%	$32,597
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	19	$99,429	-64%	$43,976
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	19	$24,690	-49%	$7,232
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	17	$15,846	-59%	$6,149
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	17	$32,270	-27%	$6,956
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	16	$115,142	-45%	$30,550
467 Revision of Hip or Knee Replacement with CC	16	$79,995	-49%	$24,903
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	16	$29,111	-21%	$5,976
854 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	16	$58,439	-41%	$17,239
066 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction without...	15	$23,239	-45%	$5,383
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	14	$71,743	-44%	$19,271
194 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC	14	$17,622	-54%	$6,720
292 Heart Failure and Shock with CC	14	$26,090	-33%	$6,301
331 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures without CC/MCC	14	$42,408	-51%	$12,282
390 Gastrointestinal Obstruction without CC/MCC	14	$14,484	-48%	$4,462
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	14	$47,462	-49%	$15,693
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	14	$65,797	-53%	$21,843
917 Poisoning and Toxic Effects of Drugs with MCC	14	$27,889	-63%	$10,917
981 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	14	$78,174	-64%	$29,812
163 Major Chest Procedures with MCC	13	$86,345	-59%	$30,373
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	13	$74,198	-45%	$24,119
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	13	$16,593	-65%	$7,733
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	12	$25,146	-61%	$10,028
312 Syncope and Collapse	12	$21,249	-53%	$6,635
357 Other Digestive System O.R. Procedures with CC	12	$93,210	-20%	$17,062
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	12	$34,980	-54%	$12,480
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	12	$24,092	-53%	$8,655
863 Postoperative and Post-Traumatic Infections without MCC	12	$20,466	-55%	$7,606

Showing the 60 most frequent of 63 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	405	$2,245	$638
Comprehensive Observation Services	294	$13,535	$2,523
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	248	$37,215	$12,236
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	225	$19,695	$3,050
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	223	$7,949	$1,755
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	210	$5,174	$1,898
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	207	$6,378	$1,514
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	168	$7,511	$2,174
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	140	$9,522	$1,810
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	124	$25,299	$6,707
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	115	$52,675	$10,305
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	112	$13,376	$2,967
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	95	$15,703	$3,750
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	90	$13,460	$3,008
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	89	$15,307	$3,268
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	85	$13,237	$2,619
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	85	$83,726	$22,209
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	85	$20,715	$4,851
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	82	$24,036	$5,357
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	60	$17,135	$3,201
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	56	$33,549	$5,359
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	50	$48,964	$17,118
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	47	$13,292	$3,418
Level 4 Endovascular Procedures	45	$71,267	$15,056
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	44	$38,810	$5,147

Against the North Dakota average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), Essentia Health Fargo charged $39,116 on average, 22% less than the North Dakota average of $50,165, and was paid $14,395 against a state average of $16,037. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), Essentia Health Fargo charged $27,294 on average, 12% less than the North Dakota average of $30,902, and was paid $9,513 against a state average of $10,520. For Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure (DRG 189), Essentia Health Fargo charged $26,841 on average, 25% less than the North Dakota average of $36,026, and was paid $9,241 against a state average of $11,059. For Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC (DRG 378), Essentia Health Fargo charged $27,361 on average, 7% more than the North Dakota average of $25,627, and was paid $7,478 against a state average of $8,090. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $2,245 was 51% above the state average of $1,482. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $13,535 was 2% below the state average of $13,866. For Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5115), its average charge of $37,215 was 3% below the state average of $38,474. For Level 1 Endovascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5191), its average charge of $19,695 was 5% below the state average of $20,673.

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.