University of Colorado Hospital Authority: charges and Medicare payments

University of Colorado Hospital Authority reported 5,122 Medicare inpatient stays across 168 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 6.77 times what it was paid — mid-range in Colorado, number 17 of 37 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 6.33×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 327 stays at an average charge of $154,833, 71% above the national average. It also billed 11,803 outpatient services, charging 10.82 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 5,122
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 6.77×
3Rank in CO (highest ratio = 1) 17 of 37
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

Average charge per stay at University of Colorado Hospital Authority, its 10 most frequent DRGs, bars to scale. Source: CMS DY2024.

Inpatient stays

For the 168 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, University of Colorado Hospital Authority charged more than the national average in 163 (97%). 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	327	$154,833	+71%	$23,019
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	117	$101,126	+79%	$15,515
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	112	$124,317	+76%	$18,820
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	108	$89,953	+51%	$14,835
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	97	$147,025	+15%	$26,143
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	84	$313,220	+35%	$45,078
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	82	$123,527	+68%	$18,738
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	71	$157,667	+32%	$27,228
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	71	$109,733	+82%	$15,864
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	68	$99,035	+72%	$14,668
847 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	65	$69,670	+3%	$14,221
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	62	$401,813	+82%	$46,227
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	61	$434,916	+90%	$59,021
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	59	$111,641	+178%	$17,508
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	59	$74,381	+52%	$11,779
219 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	58	$528,968	+33%	$79,829
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	58	$79,241	+67%	$12,119
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	57	$64,011	+73%	$9,625
683 Renal Failure with CC	54	$68,882	+69%	$10,822
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	53	$465,455	+66%	$65,620
652 Kidney Transplant	53	$426,293	+27%	$36,682
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	51	$152,790	+52%	$22,794
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	49	$144,931	+53%	$23,358
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	49	$58,098	+54%	$9,732
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	48	$295,102	+73%	$39,369
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	47	$72,581	+49%	$11,630
220 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	46	$339,841	+23%	$51,975
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	46	$307,521	+43%	$49,466
101 Seizures without MCC	45	$76,451	+57%	$10,630
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	44	$52,757	+46%	$9,187
654 Major Bladder Procedures with CC	44	$160,278	+4%	$27,752
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	42	$182,317	+83%	$24,234
205 Other Respiratory System Diagnoses with MCC	41	$133,860	+51%	$21,772
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	41	$111,321	+30%	$19,285
027 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures without...	38	$174,199	+25%	$25,080
682 Renal Failure with MCC	38	$146,892	+123%	$17,990
327 Stomach, Esophageal and Duodenal Procedures with CC	36	$201,049	+59%	$27,972
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	36	$146,785	+91%	$20,067
840 Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with MCC	36	$253,942	+63%	$35,176
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	35	$88,365	+59%	$11,479
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	35	$100,086	+125%	$12,369
919 Complications of Treatment with MCC	35	$180,223	+104%	$26,911
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	34	$229,986	+47%	$31,136
472 Cervical Spinal Fusion with CC	34	$221,628	+55%	$32,180
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	33	$103,023	+36%	$16,584
644 Endocrine Disorders with CC	33	$84,256	+75%	$12,894
846 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	33	$149,592	+11%	$26,510
312 Syncope and Collapse	32	$80,786	+77%	$10,543
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	31	$96,304	+48%	$15,497
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	31	$131,117	+115%	$17,220
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	31	$59,299	+26%	$11,248
003 ECMO or Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal...	30	$1,527,176	+45%	$251,862
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	30	$110,002	+117%	$11,546
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	30	$74,463	+91%	$10,603
372 Major Gastrointestinal Disorders and Peritoneal Infections...	29	$82,856	+75%	$12,446
441 Disorders of Liver except Malignancy, Cirrhosis or Alcoholic...	29	$152,686	+77%	$22,914
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	28	$232,776	+107%	$28,792
435 Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with MCC	28	$137,664	+46%	$20,259
445 Disorders of The Biliary Tract with CC	28	$86,293	+48%	$12,068
603 Cellulitis without MCC	28	$59,317	+59%	$11,047

Showing the 60 most frequent of 168 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	1,457	$10,994	$2,207
Comprehensive Observation Services	1,420	$43,843	$2,579
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	1,216	$3,833	$648
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	688	$13,112	$1,922
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	649	$14,170	$1,796
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	602	$12,581	$1,533
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	439	$21,165	$2,691
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	360	$31,826	$3,012
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	317	$21,993	$3,834
Level 3 Extraocular, Repair, and Plastic Eye Procedures	301	$14,932	$2,225
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	288	$19,763	$1,825
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	271	$90,648	$12,430
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	271	$42,947	$3,091
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	227	$222,485	$22,458
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	193	$22,355	$3,536
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	192	$21,676	$3,288
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	178	$58,169	$6,810
Level 3 Airway Endoscopy	167	$12,123	$1,609
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	163	$38,885	$4,902
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	160	$57,361	$3,773
Level 5 ENT Procedures	156	$50,015	$5,546
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	142	$54,802	$5,493
Complex GI Procedures	133	$44,581	$5,344
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	132	$116,177	$9,996
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	110	$78,249	$9,605

Against the Colorado average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), University of Colorado Hospital Authority charged $154,833 on average, 37% more than the Colorado average of $113,091, and was paid $23,019 against a state average of $16,848. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), University of Colorado Hospital Authority charged $101,126 on average, 42% more than the Colorado average of $71,240, and was paid $15,515 against a state average of $11,134. For Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC (DRG 177), University of Colorado Hospital Authority charged $124,317 on average, 44% more than the Colorado average of $86,428, and was paid $18,820 against a state average of $13,957. For Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC (DRG 193), University of Colorado Hospital Authority charged $89,953 on average, 31% more than the Colorado average of $68,465, and was paid $14,835 against a state average of $11,488. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $10,994 was 6% above the state average of $10,331. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $43,843 was 29% above the state average of $34,074. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $3,833 was 6% below the state average of $4,079. For Level 3 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5373), its average charge of $13,112 was 7% below the state average of $14,140.

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.