Alabama / St Vincent's Birmingham

CMS certification 010056 · Birmingham, AL · 7 entries in CMS's price-transparency list

St Vincent's Birmingham: charges and Medicare payments

St Vincent's Birmingham reported 2,064 Medicare inpatient stays across 73 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.25 times what it was paid — mid-range in Alabama, number 22 of 45 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 4.24×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 218 stays at an average charge of $57,168, 37% below the national average. It also billed 3,506 outpatient services, charging 7.46 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 2,064
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.25×
3Rank in AL (highest ratio = 1) 22 of 45
4CMS price-transparency actions 7

Average charge per stay at St Vincent's Birmingham, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 73 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, St Vincent's Birmingham charged more than the national average in 3 (4%). 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	218	$57,168	-37%	$12,873
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	132	$29,499	-48%	$8,728
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	76	$65,781	-58%	$20,403
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	68	$37,696	-47%	$11,051
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	62	$39,929	-33%	$9,172
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	57	$21,901	-45%	$5,952
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	48	$41,020	-46%	$11,002
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	47	$29,388	-43%	$8,213
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	44	$61,836	-38%	$16,995
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	42	$86,341	-49%	$21,783
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	37	$40,857	-29%	$8,860
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	37	$26,128	-31%	$6,241
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	37	$31,090	-37%	$7,440
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	36	$36,033	-35%	$7,280
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	35	$30,616	-37%	$7,395
682 Renal Failure with MCC	35	$30,580	-54%	$9,912
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	33	$57,186	-43%	$13,629
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	32	$24,774	-49%	$6,872
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	31	$19,833	-45%	$5,837
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	31	$142,711	+25%	$13,145
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	31	$62,029	-48%	$15,103
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	31	$57,787	-32%	$11,923
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	31	$33,905	-44%	$9,498
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	31	$38,498	-48%	$10,336
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	26	$101,428	-10%	$18,234
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	26	$18,028	-51%	$5,844
683 Renal Failure with CC	26	$23,691	-42%	$6,459
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	26	$112,824	-51%	$30,792
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	24	$88,064	-31%	$17,924
312 Syncope and Collapse	23	$25,668	-44%	$6,343
331 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures without CC/MCC	23	$61,176	-29%	$10,958
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	23	$57,897	-38%	$14,133
603 Cellulitis without MCC	23	$16,513	-56%	$6,349
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	22	$61,003	-40%	$13,833
310 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders without CC/MCC	21	$16,723	-42%	$4,561
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	19	$43,303	-29%	$8,985
813 Coagulation Disorders	19	$43,565	-46%	$10,043
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	17	$43,896	-13%	$6,642
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	17	$65,312	+2%	$7,679
313 Chest Pain	17	$25,033	-37%	$5,420
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	17	$175,076	+7%	$21,966
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	17	$126,908	-55%	$38,628
638 Diabetes with CC	17	$23,623	-43%	$6,572
069 Transient Ischemia without Thrombolytic	15	$25,151	-50%	$5,886
101 Seizures without MCC	15	$24,501	-50%	$6,435
165 Major Chest Procedures without CC/MCC	15	$69,120	-33%	$13,059
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	15	$149,652	-32%	$30,570
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	15	$28,578	-50%	$8,441
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	15	$167,693	-22%	$28,493
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	15	$27,994	-41%	$6,765
467 Revision of Hip or Knee Replacement with CC	15	$76,216	-52%	$19,842
472 Cervical Spinal Fusion with CC	15	$80,502	-44%	$19,119
870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours	15	$237,742	-26%	$42,980
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	14	$103,772	-55%	$25,480
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	14	$28,871	-56%	$9,440
178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC	14	$27,199	-40%	$7,087
202 Bronchitis and Asthma with CC/MCC	14	$21,842	-53%	$6,901
300 Peripheral Vascular Disorders with CC	14	$24,228	-51%	$7,524
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	14	$43,233	-54%	$14,001
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	14	$26,767	-65%	$11,022

Showing the 60 most frequent of 73 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	802	$53,368	$10,828
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	338	$35,943	$5,838
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	278	$49,277	$2,670
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	219	$61,137	$15,464
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	167	$13,878	$1,936
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	145	$9,154	$1,339
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	142	$26,980	$2,629
Comprehensive Observation Services	134	$16,977	$2,237
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	106	$53,893	$8,477
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	81	$109,007	$9,086
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	74	$107,344	$19,533
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	73	$31,874	$4,272
Level 5 Airway Endoscopy	65	$40,050	$5,645
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	62	$27,049	$2,874
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	57	$56,127	$4,771
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	54	$24,517	$1,650
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	48	$30,289	$4,322
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	48	$19,409	$1,560
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	47	$34,337	$2,616
Level 3 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	43	$90,221	$8,910
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	42	$18,145	$2,287
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	42	$17,177	$1,558
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	42	$37,794	$4,817
Level 4 Endovascular Procedures	41	$108,307	$14,302
Level 5 ENT Procedures	40	$32,603	$4,640

Against the Alabama average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), St Vincent's Birmingham charged $57,168 on average, 29% less than the Alabama average of $80,125, and was paid $12,873 against a state average of $14,647. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), St Vincent's Birmingham charged $29,499 on average, 33% less than the Alabama average of $43,997, and was paid $8,728 against a state average of $10,010. For Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC (DRG 274), St Vincent's Birmingham charged $65,781 on average, 53% less than the Alabama average of $140,297, and was paid $20,403 against a state average of $22,445. For Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC (DRG 177), St Vincent's Birmingham charged $37,696 on average, 37% less than the Alabama average of $59,377, and was paid $11,051 against a state average of $12,400. For Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5115), its average charge of $53,368 was 32% below the state average of $79,031. For Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5114), its average charge of $35,943 was 34% below the state average of $54,370. For Level 1 Endovascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5191), its average charge of $49,277 was 63% above the state average of $30,210. For Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures (outpatient APC 5116), its average charge of $61,137 was 41% below the state average of $103,075.

Price-transparency record

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

Warning Notice — 2022-11-23 (CMS case 760)
CAP Request — 2023-03-10 (CMS case 760)
Closure Notice — 2023-04-18 (CMS case 760)
CAP Request — 2025-04-17 (CMS case 3864)
CAP Request — 2025-07-21 (CMS case 3864)
CAP Request — 2026-04-10 (CMS case 3864)
Closure Notice — 2026-04-30 (CMS case 3864)

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.