University of Kentucky Hospital: charges and Medicare payments

University of Kentucky Hospital reported 4,931 Medicare inpatient stays across 173 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.22 times what it was paid — mid-range in Kentucky, number 25 of 51 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 4.06×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 332 stays at an average charge of $96,856, 7% above the national average. It also billed 5,359 outpatient services, charging 7.96 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 4,931
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.22×
3Rank in KY (highest ratio = 1) 25 of 51
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

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

Inpatient stays

For the 173 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, University of Kentucky Hospital charged more than the national average in 45 (26%). 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	332	$96,856	+7%	$21,845
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	149	$50,711	-10%	$13,092
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	113	$108,930	+9%	$21,341
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	90	$233,829	+2%	$53,645
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	77	$94,830	-6%	$19,483
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	74	$50,277	-10%	$11,176
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	74	$91,035	-24%	$24,327
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	67	$74,725	+6%	$18,451
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	66	$54,155	-9%	$13,856
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	66	$33,190	-17%	$9,162
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	63	$52,368	-9%	$12,946
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	60	$135,965	-41%	$40,275
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	57	$42,808	-12%	$10,474
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	55	$201,560	-6%	$51,466
432 Cirrhosis and Alcoholic Hepatitis with MCC	55	$89,997	-6%	$20,113
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	55	$41,866	-14%	$10,185
682 Renal Failure with MCC	54	$66,846	+1%	$15,485
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	54	$82,098	+12%	$20,338
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	49	$87,006	+15%	$17,041
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	49	$32,281	-15%	$9,104
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	48	$44,213	-10%	$11,056
023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	47	$271,745	-3%	$55,977
235 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization with MCC	46	$232,536	-21%	$57,084
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	46	$68,054	-20%	$17,779
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	43	$85,555	-10%	$22,024
603 Cellulitis without MCC	43	$34,644	-7%	$9,811
683 Renal Failure with CC	42	$34,668	-15%	$10,148
164 Major Chest Procedures with CC	41	$91,480	-28%	$24,721
057 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders without MCC	39	$48,368	-15%	$15,930
493 Lower Extremity and Humerus Procedures except Hip, Foot and...	39	$132,480	+11%	$27,636
870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours	39	$291,951	-10%	$68,844
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	38	$203,169	-8%	$40,487
435 Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with MCC	38	$74,682	-21%	$18,493
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	38	$54,401	-10%	$16,428
101 Seizures without MCC	37	$40,049	-18%	$9,770
092 Other Disorders of Nervous System with CC	36	$38,439	-25%	$10,799
003 ECMO or Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal...	35	$653,835	-38%	$172,931
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	35	$66,398	-14%	$17,401
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	34	$117,955	-13%	$30,010
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	34	$108,090	-31%	$27,284
543 Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective...	33	$53,906	+10%	$11,788
205 Other Respiratory System Diagnoses with MCC	32	$89,062	+1%	$21,578
442 Disorders of Liver except Malignancy, Cirrhosis or Alcoholic...	32	$44,290	-7%	$10,274
166 Other Respiratory System O.R. Procedures with MCC	31	$145,400	-19%	$45,349
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	31	$58,104	+13%	$14,665
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	30	$131,455	+17%	$26,013
327 Stomach, Esophageal and Duodenal Procedures with CC	30	$101,294	-20%	$22,346
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	30	$53,695	-12%	$13,900
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	30	$43,062	-9%	$11,782
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	30	$139,233	0%	$26,660
070 Other Cerebrovascular Disorders with MCC	29	$84,116	+11%	$22,417
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	29	$51,683	-21%	$13,874
441 Disorders of Liver except Malignancy, Cirrhosis or Alcoholic...	29	$69,346	-20%	$18,277
091 Other Disorders of Nervous System with MCC	27	$110,345	+33%	$20,358
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	27	$43,123	+16%	$8,570
884 Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability	27	$80,372	+29%	$15,298
056 Degenerative Nervous System Disorders with MCC	26	$96,339	0%	$25,153
082 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with MCC	26	$102,495	-11%	$23,666
253 Other Vascular Procedures with CC	26	$145,544	+10%	$23,941
027 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures without...	25	$129,017	-8%	$23,017

Showing the 60 most frequent of 173 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	638	$2,131	$588
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	416	$12,272	$1,367
Comprehensive Observation Services	330	$16,968	$2,285
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	256	$11,879	$1,592
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	215	$18,125	$2,637
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	209	$21,505	$3,085
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	193	$10,413	$1,709
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	173	$21,966	$2,288
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	169	$50,967	$11,191
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	151	$19,744	$2,971
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	148	$36,816	$4,862
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	141	$11,475	$1,609
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	140	$16,815	$3,382
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	134	$13,141	$1,982
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	128	$32,711	$2,669
Level 5 ENT Procedures	122	$34,294	$4,922
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	118	$35,972	$4,348
Level 3 Extraocular, Repair, and Plastic Eye Procedures	105	$13,177	$1,964
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	104	$26,533	$4,412
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	96	$61,097	$9,192
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	95	$34,210	$5,884
Complex GI Procedures	94	$20,446	$2,951
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	92	$72,495	$8,597
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	83	$56,731	$4,855
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	62	$21,612	$2,415

Against the Kentucky average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), University of Kentucky Hospital charged $96,856 on average, 53% more than the Kentucky average of $63,454, and was paid $21,845 against a state average of $14,765. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), University of Kentucky Hospital charged $50,711 on average, 25% more than the Kentucky average of $40,730, and was paid $13,092 against a state average of $9,552. For Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC (DRG 064), University of Kentucky Hospital charged $108,930 on average, 52% more than the Kentucky average of $71,880, and was paid $21,341 against a state average of $15,238. For Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with MCC (DRG 853), University of Kentucky Hospital charged $233,829 on average, 42% more than the Kentucky average of $164,235, and was paid $53,645 against a state average of $38,113. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $2,131 was 32% below the state average of $3,127. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $12,272 was 3% above the state average of $11,961. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $16,968 was 17% below the state average of $20,333. For Level 2 Upper GI Procedures (outpatient APC 5302), its average charge of $11,879 was 11% below the state average of $13,357.

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.