Washington / St Joseph Medical Center

CMS certification 500108 · Tacoma, WA · 2 entries in CMS's price-transparency list

St Joseph Medical Center: charges and Medicare payments

St Joseph Medical Center reported 2,857 Medicare inpatient stays across 101 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 6.26 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in Washington, number 3 of 43 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 4.37×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 286 stays at an average charge of $116,836, 29% above the national average. It also billed 2,191 outpatient services, charging 9.89 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 2,857
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 6.26×
3Rank in WA (highest ratio = 1) 3 of 43
4CMS price-transparency actions 2

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

Inpatient stays

For the 101 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, St Joseph Medical Center charged more than the national average in 87 (86%). 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	286	$116,836	+29%	$19,473
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	125	$98,432	+30%	$14,928
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	107	$189,425	+21%	$28,251
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	104	$72,754	+29%	$13,021
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	70	$298,995	+31%	$47,386
266 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	65	$357,524	+26%	$60,959
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	64	$131,825	+32%	$19,914
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	52	$69,579	+15%	$12,115
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	50	$77,340	+34%	$12,401
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	45	$92,449	+31%	$15,952
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	45	$52,163	+3%	$8,844
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	44	$136,045	+7%	$24,541
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	44	$124,785	+11%	$19,448
683 Renal Failure with CC	44	$50,787	+25%	$9,393
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	44	$85,163	+16%	$13,925
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	39	$71,610	+29%	$10,434
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	39	$104,377	-9%	$16,762
252 Other Vascular Procedures with MCC	36	$189,215	+11%	$30,841
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	36	$57,756	+18%	$9,884
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	35	$288,354	+25%	$44,668
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	35	$118,823	+39%	$19,345
082 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with MCC	33	$145,141	+26%	$22,129
682 Renal Failure with MCC	33	$93,226	+41%	$14,500
219 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	32	$594,589	+49%	$85,259
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	31	$62,853	+29%	$8,673
163 Major Chest Procedures with MCC	30	$246,817	+17%	$50,669
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	29	$90,334	+51%	$13,862
220 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	29	$399,942	+45%	$49,547
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	29	$155,747	+31%	$21,439
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	27	$67,580	+6%	$10,128
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	27	$292,167	+36%	$54,727
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	26	$367,239	+74%	$49,738
253 Other Vascular Procedures with CC	26	$185,565	+41%	$24,112
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	26	$96,019	+1%	$18,268
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	25	$55,755	+15%	$9,115
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	24	$76,259	-1%	$16,051
638 Diabetes with CC	24	$50,014	+20%	$8,202
023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	23	$252,636	-10%	$53,464
069 Transient Ischemia without Thrombolytic	22	$62,429	+24%	$7,322
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	21	$326,415	+48%	$48,074
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	21	$35,078	-3%	$7,141
331 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures without CC/MCC	21	$156,275	+82%	$26,764
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	21	$116,490	+16%	$19,372
242 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with MCC	20	$186,208	+16%	$32,378
270 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with MCC	20	$277,358	+7%	$46,929
445 Disorders of The Biliary Tract with CC	20	$64,582	+11%	$10,929
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	20	$132,145	+157%	$19,602
243 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with CC	19	$105,208	-5%	$20,923
271 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with CC	19	$182,500	+5%	$29,333
551 Medical Back Problems with MCC	19	$152,361	+94%	$20,444
885 Psychoses	19	$87,798	+99%	$13,602
183 Major Chest Trauma with MCC	18	$134,409	+80%	$14,514
637 Diabetes with MCC	18	$71,532	+8%	$13,532
811 Red Blood Cell Disorders with MCC	18	$58,023	-15%	$12,321
847 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	18	$73,863	+9%	$13,586
057 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders without MCC	17	$98,919	+75%	$14,000
085 Traumatic Stupor and Coma <1 Hour with MCC	17	$111,364	+3%	$19,597
100 Seizures with MCC	17	$164,756	+75%	$20,305
165 Major Chest Procedures without CC/MCC	17	$117,725	+14%	$22,120
184 Major Chest Trauma with CC	17	$72,077	+30%	$11,305

Showing the 60 most frequent of 101 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	193	$35,690	$3,313
Comprehensive Observation Services	156	$31,510	$2,749
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	138	$159,016	$24,238
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	127	$16,338	$1,925
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	115	$114,185	$10,316
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	103	$27,578	$3,228
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	85	$67,484	$7,164
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	83	$67,168	$5,888
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	82	$93,783	$13,105
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	75	$47,629	$5,701
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	72	$19,397	$1,989
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	71	$87,262	$11,321
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	66	$14,302	$1,612
Level 2 Musculoskeletal Procedures	63	$17,501	$1,555
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	55	$37,859	$3,238
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	55	$36,886	$3,592
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	53	$51,681	$5,011
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	44	$70,449	$5,457
Complex GI Procedures	43	$32,917	$5,872
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	42	$33,395	$2,928
Level 2 Vascular Procedures	41	$12,276	$1,618
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	39	$95,811	$6,719
Level 3 Upper GI Procedures	36	$21,378	$3,946
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	34	$60,051	$3,565
Level 1 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	33	$56,929	$3,927

Against the Washington average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), St Joseph Medical Center charged $116,836 on average, 48% more than the Washington average of $78,715, and was paid $19,473 against a state average of $18,304. For Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC (DRG 280), St Joseph Medical Center charged $98,432 on average, 47% more than the Washington average of $66,804, and was paid $14,928 against a state average of $14,507. For Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC (DRG 274), St Joseph Medical Center charged $189,425 on average, 43% more than the Washington average of $132,875, and was paid $28,251 against a state average of $29,468. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), St Joseph Medical Center charged $72,754 on average, 36% more than the Washington average of $53,424, and was paid $13,021 against a state average of $12,124. For Level 1 Endovascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5191), its average charge of $35,690 was 63% above the state average of $21,838. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $31,510 was 41% above the state average of $22,427. For Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures (outpatient APC 5213), its average charge of $159,016 was 30% above the state average of $122,380. For Level 2 Upper GI Procedures (outpatient APC 5302), its average charge of $16,338 was 51% above the state average of $10,814.

Price-transparency record

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

Met Requirements — 2023-04-25 (CMS case 1547)
Met Requirements — 2025-05-20 (CMS case 4614)

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.