Saint Vincent Hospital: charges and Medicare payments

Saint Vincent Hospital reported 1,734 Medicare inpatient stays across 58 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 6.09 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in Pennsylvania, number 29 of 117 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 4.27×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 192 stays at an average charge of $111,753, 24% above the national average. It also billed 3,281 outpatient services, charging 8.74 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 1,734
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 6.09×
3Rank in PA (highest ratio = 1) 29 of 117
4CMS price-transparency actions 1

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

Inpatient stays

For the 58 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, Saint Vincent Hospital charged more than the national average in 30 (52%). 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	192	$111,753	+24%	$17,787
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	173	$62,109	+10%	$11,386
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	73	$69,389	+16%	$11,564
885 Psychoses	54	$32,657	-26%	$12,564
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	48	$81,997	+16%	$13,751
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	43	$232,624	+48%	$27,756
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	43	$35,235	-2%	$6,702
683 Renal Failure with CC	42	$38,055	-7%	$8,030
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	38	$53,459	+10%	$8,957
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	37	$50,844	+4%	$8,552
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	36	$38,945	-3%	$7,107
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	35	$243,511	+6%	$47,313
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	34	$116,456	+4%	$20,915
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	33	$143,089	+25%	$17,403
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	31	$190,031	+16%	$25,360
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	30	$49,296	-12%	$8,742
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	30	$55,091	-3%	$10,676
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	30	$116,805	+25%	$16,444
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	28	$108,858	+9%	$18,643
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	28	$104,104	+22%	$15,599
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	28	$43,066	-16%	$10,252
603 Cellulitis without MCC	27	$36,277	-3%	$8,046
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	27	$66,495	+10%	$11,617
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	25	$64,516	+12%	$11,005
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	25	$36,881	-5%	$7,397
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	25	$40,903	-16%	$8,279
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	25	$30,642	-19%	$7,042
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	24	$33,949	-8%	$7,286
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	22	$52,190	-18%	$9,483
312 Syncope and Collapse	22	$51,887	+14%	$7,809
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	22	$102,740	+2%	$17,794
266 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	21	$443,135	+56%	$57,234
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	21	$75,793	0%	$14,069
682 Renal Failure with MCC	21	$125,926	+91%	$16,866
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	21	$67,715	+53%	$8,292
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	19	$83,924	+14%	$14,312
194 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC	18	$34,209	-11%	$7,269
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	18	$128,962	-5%	$22,483
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	18	$87,528	+73%	$10,851
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	18	$37,569	-21%	$9,027
981 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	18	$220,535	+2%	$44,776
243 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with CC	15	$146,688	+32%	$21,448
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	14	$208,541	-3%	$37,649
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	14	$57,157	-6%	$11,526
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	14	$100,475	+31%	$14,868
271 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with CC	13	$309,241	+78%	$34,896
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	13	$36,066	-23%	$8,387
445 Disorders of The Biliary Tract with CC	13	$55,688	-4%	$9,469
178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC	12	$47,828	+6%	$8,009
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	12	$389,490	+76%	$40,906
310 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders without CC/MCC	12	$28,650	0%	$5,007
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	12	$115,457	-3%	$20,872
617 Amputation of Lower Limb for Endocrine, Nutritional and...	12	$68,348	-21%	$16,887
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	11	$45,620	-10%	$10,266
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	11	$238,574	+13%	$35,287
305 Hypertension without MCC	11	$35,692	-11%	$6,698
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	11	$69,071	-27%	$17,824
388 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with MCC	11	$66,500	-3%	$13,201

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Comprehensive Observation Services	821	$24,222	$2,859
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	578	$11,504	$2,456
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	221	$86,417	$13,792
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	137	$26,568	$3,404
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	128	$15,530	$1,709
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	119	$5,964	$720
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	119	$19,592	$3,649
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	101	$30,657	$3,316
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	95	$16,718	$2,147
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	80	$16,624	$4,285
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	76	$40,907	$5,954
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	68	$109,074	$11,434
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	67	$22,480	$3,333
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	59	$31,302	$5,386
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	50	$9,251	$2,006
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	45	$55,678	$7,140
Level 2 Musculoskeletal Procedures	44	$12,013	$1,633
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	44	$9,972	$1,998
Level 2 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	35	$85,588	$8,741
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	33	$26,935	$2,995
Level 1 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	33	$43,510	$4,017
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	32	$60,085	$6,024
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	29	$117,202	$19,594
Level 2 Vascular Procedures	27	$15,817	$1,688
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	26	$81,181	$6,873

Against the Pennsylvania average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), Saint Vincent Hospital charged $111,753 on average, 27% more than the Pennsylvania average of $88,167, and was paid $17,787 against a state average of $16,881. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), Saint Vincent Hospital charged $62,109 on average, 8% more than the Pennsylvania average of $57,362, and was paid $11,386 against a state average of $11,112. For Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC (DRG 193), Saint Vincent Hospital charged $69,389 on average, 17% more than the Pennsylvania average of $59,404, and was paid $11,564 against a state average of $11,319. For Psychoses (DRG 885), Saint Vincent Hospital charged $32,657 on average, 49% less than the Pennsylvania average of $63,773, and was paid $12,564 against a state average of $13,207. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $24,222 was 11% above the state average of $21,732. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $11,504 was 20% below the state average of $14,403. For Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5115), its average charge of $86,417 was 36% above the state average of $63,627. For Level 1 Endovascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5191), its average charge of $26,568 was 7% below the state average of $28,496.

Price-transparency record

CMS's enforcement list records these actions for a hospital named Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA, under the federal hospital price-transparency rule (45 CFR part 180), which requires hospitals to post their standard charges online:

Met Requirements — 2026-01-22 (CMS case 6600)

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.