The University of Chicago Medical Center: charges and Medicare payments

The University of Chicago Medical Center reported 5,502 Medicare inpatient stays across 169 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.5 times what it was paid — mid-range in Illinois, number 36 of 106 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 4.06×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 291, Heart Failure and Shock with MCC: 247 stays at an average charge of $78,214, 39% above the national average. It also billed 7,442 outpatient services, charging 11.68 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 5,502
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.5×
3Rank in IL (highest ratio = 1) 36 of 106
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at The University of Chicago Medical Center, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 169 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, The University of Chicago Medical Center charged more than the national average in 157 (93%). Payments follow Medicare's rates, so they usually vary far less than charges.

DRG	Stays	Avg charge	vs US	Avg paid
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	247	$78,214	+39%	$18,328
871 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC	183	$160,065	+77%	$31,700
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	107	$84,085	+39%	$18,572
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	105	$61,139	+38%	$15,599
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	90	$62,630	+32%	$14,963
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	88	$107,269	+52%	$23,900
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	79	$74,834	+54%	$14,885
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	78	$158,649	+59%	$38,309
683 Renal Failure with CC	76	$56,022	+38%	$14,535
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	75	$57,660	+44%	$13,112
847 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	74	$73,559	+9%	$22,037
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	73	$375,162	+64%	$81,243
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	71	$232,518	+5%	$58,889
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	68	$93,862	+57%	$21,062
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	67	$173,790	+55%	$42,898
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	66	$116,224	+130%	$20,342
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	65	$108,260	+47%	$28,332
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	64	$60,625	+64%	$12,445
312 Syncope and Collapse	63	$51,569	+13%	$12,465
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	60	$56,829	+50%	$12,725
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	59	$163,571	+72%	$32,469
849 Radiotherapy	59	$99,248	-27%	$36,796
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	58	$46,697	+29%	$14,152
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	58	$181,458	+52%	$32,918
219 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	57	$371,324	-7%	$100,184
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	57	$233,894	+11%	$60,782
682 Renal Failure with MCC	55	$97,421	+48%	$21,630
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	51	$104,906	+82%	$18,744
652 Kidney Transplant	50	$414,461	+23%	$46,230
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	49	$114,211	+51%	$23,169
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	49	$157,600	+85%	$27,856
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	49	$53,679	+14%	$14,758
003 ECMO or Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal...	48	$1,235,245	+17%	$296,723
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	47	$68,737	+21%	$17,855
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	46	$96,280	+73%	$21,527
001 Heart Transplant or Implant of Heart Assist System with MCC	44	$1,550,132	+6%	$339,781
023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	44	$345,359	+23%	$80,960
191 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with CC	42	$50,552	+28%	$12,502
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	41	$216,114	+59%	$50,300
194 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC	40	$53,768	+40%	$13,693
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	40	$175,629	+12%	$37,842
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	39	$348,867	+51%	$67,455
315 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with CC	39	$72,304	+51%	$14,612
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	38	$136,156	+35%	$27,765
603 Cellulitis without MCC	38	$54,280	+46%	$13,498
981 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	38	$384,320	+78%	$80,763
018 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (Car) T-Cell and Other...	37	$2,770,449	+26%	$486,850
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	37	$149,154	+17%	$35,364
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	36	$81,047	+33%	$19,242
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	36	$61,346	+26%	$16,438
811 Red Blood Cell Disorders with MCC	36	$116,628	+71%	$26,393
252 Other Vascular Procedures with MCC	35	$216,283	+27%	$48,118
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	34	$81,858	+67%	$19,408
917 Poisoning and Toxic Effects of Drugs with MCC	34	$92,848	+24%	$21,742
235 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization with MCC	33	$329,526	+13%	$80,615
846 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	33	$147,417	+10%	$45,504
638 Diabetes with CC	32	$54,941	+32%	$13,882
057 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders without MCC	31	$89,165	+57%	$23,128
074 Cranial and Peripheral Nerve Disorders without MCC	31	$55,360	+3%	$14,733
101 Seizures without MCC	31	$53,980	+11%	$14,218

Showing the 60 most frequent of 169 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	805	$6,232	$661
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	611	$20,579	$1,929
Comprehensive Observation Services	501	$35,765	$2,639
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	495	$30,106	$2,709
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	411	$24,954	$2,249
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	383	$17,252	$1,534
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	341	$21,416	$1,799
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	308	$28,101	$3,016
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	253	$29,835	$3,093
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	221	$31,795	$3,354
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	213	$95,269	$12,467
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	172	$97,430	$10,004
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	167	$43,736	$3,607
Level 3 Airway Endoscopy	142	$14,111	$1,624
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	140	$64,238	$5,580
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	140	$55,926	$4,975
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	136	$90,608	$10,450
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	128	$67,515	$6,871
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	119	$51,894	$5,349
Level 5 Airway Endoscopy	115	$64,814	$6,611
Level 5 ENT Procedures	114	$62,068	$5,591
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	108	$50,472	$5,226
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	107	$16,892	$1,864
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	80	$39,046	$3,837
Level 2 Vascular Procedures	79	$11,579	$1,526

Against the Illinois average

For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), The University of Chicago Medical Center charged $78,214 on average, 69% more than the Illinois average of $46,293, and was paid $18,328 against a state average of $11,813. For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), The University of Chicago Medical Center charged $160,065 on average, 116% more than the Illinois average of $73,987, and was paid $31,700 against a state average of $17,651. For Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and Electrolytes with MCC (DRG 640), The University of Chicago Medical Center charged $84,085 on average, 80% more than the Illinois average of $46,822, and was paid $18,572 against a state average of $12,592. For Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC (DRG 812), The University of Chicago Medical Center charged $61,139 on average, 56% more than the Illinois average of $39,096, and was paid $15,599 against a state average of $9,563. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $6,232 was 55% above the state average of $4,013. For Level 3 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5373), its average charge of $20,579 was 51% above the state average of $13,661. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $35,765 was 66% above the state average of $21,498. For Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5073), its average charge of $30,106 was 35% above the state average of $22,245.

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.