George Washington Univ Hospital: charges and Medicare payments

George Washington Univ Hospital reported 2,155 Medicare inpatient stays across 79 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 7.66 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in District of Columbia, number 1 of 6 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 3.83×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 208 stays at an average charge of $223,509, 148% above the national average. It also billed 1,982 outpatient services, charging 12.76 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 2,155
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 7.66×
3Rank in DC (highest ratio = 1) 1 of 6
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at George Washington Univ Hospital, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 79 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, George Washington Univ Hospital charged more than the national average in 79 (100%). 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	208	$223,509	+148%	$26,897
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	154	$134,734	+139%	$17,487
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	66	$231,235	+132%	$25,259
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	65	$505,805	+121%	$65,417
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	63	$117,376	+95%	$16,931
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	61	$171,708	+134%	$22,440
682 Renal Failure with MCC	43	$144,317	+119%	$19,184
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	41	$146,093	+93%	$19,725
683 Renal Failure with CC	41	$74,883	+84%	$11,682
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	38	$249,542	+192%	$25,654
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	34	$58,817	+46%	$9,915
235 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization with MCC	33	$426,921	+46%	$69,839
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	33	$92,770	+89%	$13,785
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	32	$123,960	+161%	$14,107
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	31	$88,351	+82%	$13,052
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	30	$477,881	+106%	$56,227
101 Seizures without MCC	30	$87,351	+79%	$11,952
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	29	$169,930	+141%	$20,993
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	29	$148,700	+149%	$17,756
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	29	$544,197	+95%	$70,975
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	28	$322,361	+46%	$55,080
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	28	$159,832	+72%	$22,494
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	28	$192,396	+91%	$24,310
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	27	$131,526	+128%	$16,627
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	27	$99,059	+93%	$14,691
252 Other Vascular Procedures with MCC	26	$349,666	+105%	$45,096
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	26	$87,742	+137%	$10,304
270 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with MCC	25	$423,936	+64%	$63,345
312 Syncope and Collapse	25	$84,325	+85%	$11,190
870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours	25	$642,805	+99%	$84,439
100 Seizures with MCC	24	$224,452	+138%	$27,657
304 Hypertension with MCC	23	$124,994	+119%	$15,411
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	23	$69,760	+43%	$12,127
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	23	$81,029	+114%	$10,776
023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	22	$524,739	+87%	$67,608
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	22	$153,878	+172%	$16,565
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	22	$75,828	+110%	$10,081
981 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	22	$514,738	+138%	$65,696
253 Other Vascular Procedures with CC	21	$369,852	+181%	$36,143
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	20	$341,106	+62%	$48,554
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	20	$124,657	+104%	$17,232
637 Diabetes with MCC	20	$192,785	+190%	$25,903
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	19	$124,901	+124%	$13,287
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	19	$198,066	+56%	$27,589
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	19	$124,417	+146%	$14,928
313 Chest Pain	19	$64,763	+62%	$8,960
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	19	$246,076	+50%	$33,816
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	19	$465,768	+173%	$42,187
057 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders without MCC	18	$138,248	+144%	$19,424
603 Cellulitis without MCC	17	$57,388	+54%	$11,292
003 ECMO or Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal...	16	$1,481,184	+41%	$234,694
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	16	$224,589	+100%	$27,954
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	16	$232,619	+145%	$25,999
638 Diabetes with CC	16	$62,327	+50%	$11,696
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	15	$141,952	+24%	$22,062
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	15	$204,196	+100%	$24,850
082 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with MCC	14	$219,164	+90%	$29,476
266 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	14	$358,757	+26%	$67,484
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	14	$165,201	+5%	$35,979
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	14	$101,997	+60%	$12,616

Showing the 60 most frequent of 79 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	262	$36,447	$2,332
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	214	$14,584	$1,618
Comprehensive Observation Services	131	$51,494	$2,735
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	102	$31,985	$2,027
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	97	$25,344	$1,915
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	92	$37,942	$3,339
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	76	$147,133	$19,023
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	67	$33,989	$3,223
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	63	$41,010	$3,495
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	62	$119,751	$13,444
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	61	$52,501	$3,567
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	57	$92,424	$11,243
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	46	$84,063	$7,320
Level 5 ENT Procedures	46	$69,980	$5,991
Level 1 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	40	$53,836	$3,900
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	40	$75,204	$5,294
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	34	$98,483	$6,672
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	33	$43,918	$3,747
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	32	$44,399	$5,156
Level 3 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	31	$71,660	$10,914
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	30	$71,431	$5,753
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	28	$34,116	$2,667
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	28	$56,319	$3,230
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	28	$150,441	$10,522
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	28	$28,195	$1,976

Against the District of Columbia average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), George Washington Univ Hospital charged $223,509 on average, 102% more than the District of Columbia average of $110,527, and was paid $26,897 against a state average of $23,955. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), George Washington Univ Hospital charged $134,734 on average, 85% more than the District of Columbia average of $72,832, and was paid $17,487 against a state average of $15,583. For Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC (DRG 064), George Washington Univ Hospital charged $231,235 on average, 63% more than the District of Columbia average of $142,260, and was paid $25,259 against a state average of $26,664. For Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with MCC (DRG 853), George Washington Univ Hospital charged $505,805 on average, 63% more than the District of Columbia average of $311,039, and was paid $65,417 against a state average of $69,493. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $36,447 was 58% above the state average of $23,010. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $14,584 was 22% above the state average of $11,963. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $51,494 was 100% above the state average of $25,706. For Level 3 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5373), its average charge of $31,985 was 88% above the state average of $16,973.

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.