Iowa / Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center

CMS certification 160069 · Dubuque, IA · 3 entries in CMS's price-transparency list

Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center: charges and Medicare payments

Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center reported 2,828 Medicare inpatient stays across 85 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 3.63 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in Iowa, number 9 of 27 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 3.32×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 307 stays at an average charge of $44,734, 50% below the national average. It also billed 2,494 outpatient services, charging 5.18 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 2,828
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 3.63×
3Rank in IA (highest ratio = 1) 9 of 27
4CMS price-transparency actions 3

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

Inpatient stays

For the 85 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center 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	307	$44,734	-50%	$13,689
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	173	$32,145	-43%	$8,891
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	111	$34,495	-51%	$11,329
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	104	$29,569	-51%	$9,242
885 Psychoses	99	$34,109	-23%	$9,817
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	97	$38,432	-49%	$10,978
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	65	$28,002	-45%	$8,185
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	60	$24,440	-50%	$7,190
683 Renal Failure with CC	59	$21,353	-48%	$6,198
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	57	$21,612	-43%	$5,729
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	55	$34,125	-41%	$8,623
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	52	$24,653	-39%	$5,720
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	50	$32,617	-56%	$11,202
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	44	$68,675	-40%	$13,413
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	44	$25,887	-47%	$6,813
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	43	$33,359	-40%	$7,284
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	43	$106,370	-52%	$33,689
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	43	$24,241	-50%	$6,780
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	41	$59,882	-41%	$14,047
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	38	$22,073	-39%	$5,412
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	38	$21,016	-46%	$5,704
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	38	$113,842	-50%	$32,809
194 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC	37	$25,739	-33%	$5,739
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	35	$37,307	-56%	$11,503
682 Renal Failure with MCC	35	$41,126	-38%	$10,233
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	34	$28,270	-53%	$9,104
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	33	$29,525	-42%	$7,688
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	33	$89,527	-45%	$20,837
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	30	$41,795	-58%	$13,171
312 Syncope and Collapse	29	$26,229	-42%	$6,081
603 Cellulitis without MCC	29	$19,856	-47%	$6,192
178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC	28	$27,199	-40%	$7,025
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	28	$29,838	-51%	$8,934
563 Fracture, Sprain, Strain and Dislocation except Femur, Hip,...	28	$19,719	-54%	$7,038
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	26	$30,834	-53%	$9,618
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	26	$22,380	-40%	$5,457
516 Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue O.R....	24	$52,307	-48%	$14,052
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	23	$58,024	-43%	$14,218
884 Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability	23	$40,950	-34%	$11,904
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	22	$75,372	-37%	$16,679
948 Signs and Symptoms without MCC	22	$22,587	-41%	$5,640
660 Kidney and Ureter Procedures for Non-Neoplasm with CC	21	$37,072	-45%	$9,398
092 Other Disorders of Nervous System with CC	20	$30,269	-41%	$7,082
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	20	$157,911	-27%	$35,780
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	20	$68,164	-51%	$19,004
897 Alcohol, Drug Abuse or Dependence without Rehabilitation...	20	$17,806	-52%	$6,058
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	19	$29,271	-42%	$6,715
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	19	$27,811	-51%	$8,366
069 Transient Ischemia without Thrombolytic	18	$30,152	-40%	$5,629
057 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders without MCC	17	$29,677	-48%	$9,210
418 Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy without C.D.E. with CC	16	$58,637	-37%	$11,428
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	16	$84,319	-50%	$25,363
242 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with MCC	15	$53,679	-67%	$23,542
243 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with CC	15	$40,794	-63%	$15,800
638 Diabetes with CC	15	$16,469	-60%	$6,344
149 Dysequilibrium	14	$27,944	-37%	$5,263
602 Cellulitis with MCC	14	$34,460	-43%	$10,107
637 Diabetes with MCC	14	$33,153	-50%	$10,060
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	14	$23,461	-51%	$7,060
036 Carotid Artery Stent Procedures without CC/MCC	13	$24,855	-72%	$12,642

Showing the 60 most frequent of 85 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	350	$40,994	$11,925
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	280	$18,935	$2,962
Comprehensive Observation Services	190	$16,607	$2,485
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	154	$20,259	$4,694
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	152	$8,770	$1,463
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	128	$16,140	$3,179
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	100	$30,030	$5,219
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	87	$34,721	$6,463
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	83	$11,702	$2,906
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	78	$20,969	$5,212
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	77	$48,082	$10,023
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	58	$35,530	$5,946
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	51	$10,091	$1,735
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	50	$44,312	$9,380
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	49	$18,734	$3,414
Level 3 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	48	$20,345	$9,729
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	46	$45,756	$16,636
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	43	$8,691	$1,857
Level 4 Endovascular Procedures	42	$47,065	$15,956
Level 5 ENT Procedures	39	$28,792	$5,340
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	39	$8,051	$2,125
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	38	$22,524	$3,088
Level 2 Musculoskeletal Procedures	35	$9,322	$1,465
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	28	$17,193	$2,952
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	28	$12,016	$5,011

Against the Iowa average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center charged $44,734 on average, 10% less than the Iowa average of $49,919, and was paid $13,689 against a state average of $14,771. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center charged $32,145 on average, 8% less than the Iowa average of $34,817, and was paid $8,891 against a state average of $9,846. For Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC (DRG 177), Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center charged $34,495 on average, 18% less than the Iowa average of $42,217, and was paid $11,329 against a state average of $12,510. For Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC (DRG 193), Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center charged $29,569 on average, 12% less than the Iowa average of $33,652, and was paid $9,242 against a state average of $10,047. For Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5115), its average charge of $40,994 was 17% below the state average of $49,177. For Level 1 Endovascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5191), its average charge of $18,935 was 4% below the state average of $19,798. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $16,607 was 5% below the state average of $17,461. For Level 5 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5375), its average charge of $20,259 was 8% below the state average of $21,940.

Price-transparency record

CMS's enforcement list records these actions for a hospital named Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center in Dubuque, IA, under the federal hospital price-transparency rule (45 CFR part 180), which requires hospitals to post their standard charges online:

Met Requirements — 2023-08-31 (CMS case 1660)
Warning Notice — 2025-04-16 (CMS case 3828)
Closure Notice — 2025-07-18 (CMS case 3828)

A warning notice or corrective-action request is not a finding of wrongdoing; "Met Requirements" and closure notices record that CMS's review ended. Matched to this hospital by exact name, city and state.

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.