HCA Healthone Aurora: charges and Medicare payments

HCA Healthone Aurora reported 1,650 Medicare inpatient stays across 56 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 11.79 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in Colorado, number 3 of 37 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 6.33×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 274 stays at an average charge of $193,549, 114% above the national average. It also billed 1,291 outpatient services, charging 18.03 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 1,650
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 11.79×
3Rank in CO (highest ratio = 1) 3 of 37
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at HCA Healthone Aurora, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 56 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, HCA Healthone Aurora charged more than the national average in 56 (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	274	$193,549	+114%	$16,748
885 Psychoses	94	$90,271	+105%	$12,487
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	86	$108,806	+93%	$11,311
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	60	$114,128	+62%	$13,620
682 Renal Failure with MCC	51	$161,855	+145%	$12,634
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	50	$137,082	+138%	$10,801
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	49	$124,544	+64%	$13,421
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	44	$109,328	+83%	$11,904
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	44	$503,206	+120%	$44,150
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	43	$113,717	+89%	$11,380
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	41	$488,388	+212%	$25,574
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	37	$190,983	+160%	$13,519
683 Renal Failure with CC	34	$93,446	+130%	$8,110
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	30	$76,261	+111%	$7,305
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	29	$87,280	+117%	$7,442
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	29	$92,018	+88%	$8,437
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	28	$117,833	+143%	$9,127
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	27	$188,093	+88%	$15,554
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	27	$94,104	+92%	$11,167
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	26	$228,465	+127%	$17,086
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	25	$236,739	+154%	$16,153
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	25	$79,087	+109%	$7,098
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	23	$118,252	+109%	$10,439
884 Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability	23	$80,802	+29%	$12,780
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	21	$106,877	+108%	$10,975
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	19	$352,838	+116%	$23,157
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	19	$125,222	+164%	$9,092
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	18	$118,258	+134%	$10,456
100 Seizures with MCC	17	$247,507	+162%	$15,461
312 Syncope and Collapse	16	$80,577	+77%	$7,392
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	16	$271,639	+165%	$18,334
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	15	$263,422	+130%	$16,813
432 Cirrhosis and Alcoholic Hepatitis with MCC	15	$216,926	+127%	$22,283
467 Revision of Hip or Knee Replacement with CC	15	$428,650	+172%	$26,791
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	15	$319,275	+130%	$22,718
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	15	$78,622	+112%	$7,095
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	14	$131,582	+136%	$8,856
091 Other Disorders of Nervous System with MCC	14	$137,271	+66%	$14,398
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	14	$144,135	+121%	$11,728
603 Cellulitis without MCC	14	$86,190	+131%	$8,006
149 Dysequilibrium	13	$102,942	+132%	$6,871
163 Major Chest Procedures with MCC	13	$399,316	+90%	$39,724
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	13	$578,316	+174%	$33,336
243 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with CC	13	$193,456	+74%	$18,774
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	13	$214,582	+151%	$18,735
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	13	$84,886	+118%	$7,547
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	13	$96,735	+106%	$8,392
637 Diabetes with MCC	13	$115,538	+74%	$12,409
074 Cranial and Peripheral Nerve Disorders without MCC	12	$81,058	+51%	$8,154
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	12	$108,001	+77%	$10,755
101 Seizures without MCC	11	$128,260	+163%	$7,467
233 Coronary Bypass with Cardiac Catheterization or Open...	11	$775,425	+101%	$62,980
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	11	$335,807	+199%	$22,047
854 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	11	$243,748	+148%	$18,907
870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours	11	$858,409	+166%	$71,596
895 Alcohol, Drug Abuse or Dependence with Rehabilitation...	11	$45,302	+32%	$12,750

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Comprehensive Observation Services	218	$64,727	$2,606
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	215	$208,146	$12,359
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	127	$190,786	$22,550
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	110	$73,287	$3,107
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	67	$29,822	$1,507
Level 3 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	65	$137,943	$10,157
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	52	$195,106	$10,463
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	48	$110,531	$5,493
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	46	$74,193	$3,293
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	43	$68,778	$3,034
Level 5 Airway Endoscopy	42	$167,371	$6,403
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	40	$41,010	$1,811
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	39	$135,390	$6,810
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	25	$289,788	$17,066
Level 2 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	24	$95,599	$7,818
Level 4 Endovascular Procedures	22	$253,470	$16,657
Level 2 Vascular Procedures	21	$36,377	$1,525
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	19	$86,740	$3,082
Level 2 ICD and Similar Procedures	19	$429,703	$31,224
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	18	$83,146	$4,926
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	17	$142,572	$5,231
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	14	$62,920	$2,705

Against the Colorado average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), HCA Healthone Aurora charged $193,549 on average, 71% more than the Colorado average of $113,091, and was paid $16,748 against a state average of $16,848. For Psychoses (DRG 885), HCA Healthone Aurora charged $90,271 on average, 6% more than the Colorado average of $84,967, and was paid $12,487 against a state average of $12,665. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), HCA Healthone Aurora charged $108,806 on average, 53% more than the Colorado average of $71,240, and was paid $11,311 against a state average of $11,134. For Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC (DRG 177), HCA Healthone Aurora charged $114,128 on average, 32% more than the Colorado average of $86,428, and was paid $13,620 against a state average of $13,957. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $64,727 was 90% above the state average of $34,074. For Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5115), its average charge of $208,146 was 132% above the state average of $89,547. For Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures (outpatient APC 5213), its average charge of $190,786 was 1% below the state average of $192,784. For Level 1 Endovascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5191), its average charge of $73,287 was 124% above the state average of $32,669.

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.