University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center: charges and Medicare payments

University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center reported 6,003 Medicare inpatient stays across 195 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.35 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in Iowa, number 4 of 27 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 3.32×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 230 stays at an average charge of $98,391, 9% above the national average. It also billed 13,344 outpatient services, charging 6.8 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 6,003
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.35×
3Rank in IA (highest ratio = 1) 4 of 27
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

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

Inpatient stays

For the 195 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center charged more than the national average in 77 (39%). 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	230	$98,391	+9%	$21,701
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	158	$76,938	+36%	$15,596
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	148	$96,035	-4%	$20,611
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	148	$77,225	+34%	$15,179
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	143	$68,610	+23%	$12,434
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	136	$163,600	-29%	$43,429
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	103	$100,703	-36%	$29,635
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	94	$144,189	-15%	$34,955
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	84	$100,012	-1%	$21,081
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	84	$215,545	-6%	$52,818
847 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	74	$45,797	-32%	$14,017
266 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	67	$217,216	-24%	$57,763
219 Cardiac Valve and Other Major Cardiothoracic Procedures...	64	$286,390	-28%	$71,981
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	61	$81,218	-32%	$23,222
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	60	$66,171	+11%	$14,718
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	56	$159,349	-28%	$43,179
023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	55	$247,145	-12%	$58,491
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	55	$68,240	-3%	$17,887
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	55	$124,161	+11%	$22,968
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	54	$108,927	-20%	$27,554
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	53	$84,960	-1%	$19,367
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	51	$55,057	+13%	$11,013
018 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (Car) T-Cell and Other...	50	$2,089,368	-5%	$452,054
253 Other Vascular Procedures with CC	49	$146,182	+11%	$26,779
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	49	$34,165	-5%	$8,464
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	49	$49,516	+1%	$10,567
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	49	$77,101	+28%	$15,041
027 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures without...	48	$102,032	-27%	$22,951
235 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization with MCC	48	$210,736	-28%	$54,545
683 Renal Failure with CC	48	$47,724	+17%	$10,236
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	47	$188,528	-12%	$45,930
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	45	$60,097	-8%	$15,310
454 Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion with CC	45	$156,548	-44%	$55,128
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	45	$56,471	+52%	$9,452
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	45	$44,287	+17%	$9,013
270 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with MCC	41	$279,288	+8%	$64,409
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	40	$107,670	+14%	$22,598
472 Cervical Spinal Fusion with CC	40	$131,117	-8%	$29,936
660 Kidney and Ureter Procedures for Non-Neoplasm with CC	40	$61,562	-9%	$13,425
682 Renal Failure with MCC	39	$79,386	+20%	$16,756
082 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with MCC	38	$102,829	-11%	$22,772
457 Spinal Fusion except Cervical with Spinal Curvature,...	38	$209,780	-27%	$59,842
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	37	$156,669	-4%	$30,558
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	37	$33,729	-28%	$10,008
657 Kidney and Ureter Procedures for Neoplasm with CC	37	$92,376	-8%	$17,629
101 Seizures without MCC	36	$46,350	-5%	$10,267
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	36	$76,616	+49%	$14,218
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	36	$39,794	-16%	$10,873
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	36	$37,132	-16%	$9,980
100 Seizures with MCC	35	$135,172	+43%	$23,898
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	35	$40,580	+1%	$8,930
445 Disorders of The Biliary Tract with CC	35	$65,946	+13%	$11,519
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	35	$58,554	+19%	$12,311
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	34	$58,902	-3%	$14,301
467 Revision of Hip or Knee Replacement with CC	34	$147,888	-6%	$32,670
470 Major Hip and Knee Joint Replacement or Reattachment of...	34	$82,160	-12%	$17,774
654 Major Bladder Procedures with CC	34	$133,170	-14%	$29,003
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	34	$48,221	-34%	$16,670
083 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with CC	33	$67,070	-9%	$14,239
981 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	33	$201,149	-7%	$48,284

Showing the 60 most frequent of 195 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	3,128	$7,443	$595
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	845	$11,855	$2,054
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	689	$9,458	$1,770
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	670	$9,430	$1,415
Comprehensive Observation Services	626	$25,934	$2,415
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	520	$10,642	$1,559
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	477	$27,785	$3,603
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	412	$20,226	$2,461
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	398	$110,861	$20,996
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	344	$59,924	$11,534
Level 3 Extraocular, Repair, and Plastic Eye Procedures	343	$12,694	$2,071
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	342	$17,491	$2,856
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	300	$21,023	$3,070
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	286	$17,035	$2,774
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	250	$27,684	$4,595
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	241	$57,912	$9,120
Level 5 ENT Procedures	165	$33,998	$5,201
Level 3 Airway Endoscopy	155	$7,550	$1,468
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	155	$11,040	$1,688
Complex GI Procedures	153	$35,666	$4,832
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	151	$56,429	$9,432
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	138	$18,727	$3,212
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	136	$35,420	$6,385
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	131	$15,116	$3,022
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	131	$37,364	$5,024

Against the Iowa average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center charged $98,391 on average, 97% more than the Iowa average of $49,919, and was paid $21,701 against a state average of $14,771. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center charged $76,938 on average, 121% more than the Iowa average of $34,817, and was paid $15,596 against a state average of $9,846. For Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC (DRG 064), University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center charged $96,035 on average, 58% more than the Iowa average of $60,905, and was paid $20,611 against a state average of $15,690. For Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure (DRG 189), University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center charged $77,225 on average, 96% more than the Iowa average of $39,347, and was paid $15,179 against a state average of $10,151. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $7,443 was 28% above the state average of $5,820. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $11,855 was 25% above the state average of $9,485. For Level 3 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5373), its average charge of $9,458 was 2% above the state average of $9,306. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $9,430 was 17% above the state average of $8,055.

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.