UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr: charges and Medicare payments

UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr reported 6,146 Medicare inpatient stays across 185 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.05 times what it was paid — among the lower ratios in California, number 181 of 247 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 5.18×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 585 stays at an average charge of $143,869, 59% above the national average. It also billed 12,719 outpatient services, charging 6.08 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 6,146
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.05×
3Rank in CA (highest ratio = 1) 181 of 247
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 185 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr charged more than the national average in 169 (91%). 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	585	$143,869	+59%	$35,921
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	237	$100,370	+78%	$25,704
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	131	$106,665	+45%	$29,884
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	129	$74,444	+52%	$19,828
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	118	$109,529	+55%	$29,862
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	79	$80,840	-48%	$42,373
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	73	$155,385	+56%	$35,598
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	73	$188,617	+58%	$36,662
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	72	$69,265	+46%	$19,181
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	71	$438,442	+92%	$103,186
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	69	$138,950	+47%	$40,664
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	68	$142,173	+12%	$36,683
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	67	$173,345	-22%	$62,533
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	66	$325,022	+40%	$69,891
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	66	$108,707	+27%	$29,051
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	66	$156,812	+56%	$31,743
683 Renal Failure with CC	66	$59,114	+45%	$17,041
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	65	$118,952	+107%	$25,445
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	64	$91,147	+53%	$23,035
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	64	$63,119	+30%	$17,497
603 Cellulitis without MCC	63	$51,717	+39%	$17,295
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	62	$153,353	+37%	$39,875
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	61	$368,020	+71%	$76,631
682 Renal Failure with MCC	61	$102,754	+56%	$26,635
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	59	$122,930	+62%	$28,535
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	57	$56,377	+52%	$18,362
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	57	$51,192	+35%	$15,502
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	54	$81,593	+46%	$18,869
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	52	$122,076	+31%	$28,202
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	51	$52,115	+30%	$15,059
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	49	$98,573	+63%	$24,205
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	47	$95,602	-17%	$26,804
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	45	$451,322	+61%	$94,250
163 Major Chest Procedures with MCC	43	$432,560	+105%	$93,200
219 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	43	$400,313	0%	$109,151
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	42	$83,109	+30%	$19,316
180 Respiratory Neoplasms with MCC	41	$145,235	+65%	$34,695
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	41	$235,542	+70%	$47,550
870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours	39	$442,482	+37%	$104,320
252 Other Vascular Procedures with MCC	38	$238,332	+39%	$59,033
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	37	$154,561	-6%	$49,030
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	37	$74,070	+52%	$17,453
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	37	$71,131	+39%	$21,222
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	36	$134,432	+75%	$33,531
441 Disorders of Liver except Malignancy, Cirrhosis or Alcoholic...	36	$112,657	+31%	$30,743
178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC	35	$103,536	+128%	$24,000
003 ECMO or Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal...	34	$1,320,251	+25%	$340,130
056 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders with MCC	34	$173,188	+80%	$44,509
205 Other Respiratory System Diagnoses with MCC	33	$167,677	+90%	$38,903
374 Digestive Malignancy with MCC	33	$164,968	+64%	$40,474
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	33	$56,405	+45%	$15,928
406 Pancreas, Liver and Shunt Procedures with CC	33	$175,957	+9%	$44,216
840 Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with MCC	33	$282,186	+81%	$65,020
919 Complications of Treatment with MCC	33	$148,590	+68%	$37,343
270 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with MCC	32	$413,917	+60%	$93,488
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	32	$54,639	+51%	$14,110
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	31	$79,565	+40%	$21,141
435 Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with MCC	31	$120,295	+27%	$30,050
453 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with MCC	31	$708,006	+56%	$152,192
660 Kidney and Ureter Procedures for Non-Neoplasm with CC	31	$123,632	+83%	$30,010

Showing the 60 most frequent of 185 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	1,381	$2,443	$839
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	1,235	$13,241	$2,860
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	821	$9,150	$2,448
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	693	$9,299	$1,976
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	674	$13,791	$2,336
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	534	$78,549	$16,094
Comprehensive Observation Services	534	$27,875	$3,354
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	440	$20,461	$3,465
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	404	$15,815	$4,008
Level 3 Extraocular, Repair, and Plastic Eye Procedures	398	$17,118	$2,866
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	392	$14,650	$3,914
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	300	$25,648	$4,272
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	278	$11,596	$2,374
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	273	$30,684	$4,999
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	271	$40,433	$6,362
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	261	$47,607	$13,477
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	251	$51,754	$7,071
Level 3 Lower GI Procedures	219	$18,709	$3,450
Level 5 Airway Endoscopy	215	$73,285	$8,413
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	212	$139,966	$29,114
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	206	$57,597	$8,374
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	161	$32,297	$4,604
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	148	$102,844	$12,586
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	146	$39,363	$5,507
Level 5 ENT Procedures	143	$55,178	$7,200

Against the California average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr charged $143,869 on average, 1% more than the California average of $143,063, and was paid $35,921 against a state average of $23,020. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr charged $100,370 on average, 0% less than the California average of $100,739, and was paid $25,704 against a state average of $15,556. For Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC (DRG 698), UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr charged $106,665 on average, 10% less than the California average of $117,988, and was paid $29,884 against a state average of $19,449. For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC (DRG 872), UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr charged $74,444 on average, 2% less than the California average of $76,120, and was paid $19,828 against a state average of $12,552. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $2,443 was 50% below the state average of $4,853. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $13,241 was 37% below the state average of $20,986. For Level 3 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5373), its average charge of $9,150 was 49% below the state average of $17,793. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $9,299 was 37% below the state average of $14,749.

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.