Kentucky / University of Louisville Hospital

CMS certification 180141 · Louisville, KY · 1 entry in CMS's price-transparency list

University of Louisville Hospital: charges and Medicare payments

University of Louisville Hospital reported 1,360 Medicare inpatient stays across 63 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 4.33 times what it was paid — mid-range in Kentucky, number 22 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: 141 stays at an average charge of $93,367, 3% above the national average. It also billed 2,081 outpatient services, charging 10.57 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 1,360
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 4.33×
3Rank in KY (highest ratio = 1) 22 of 51
4CMS price-transparency actions 1

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

Inpatient stays

For the 63 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, University of Louisville Hospital charged more than the national average in 14 (22%). 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	141	$93,367	+3%	$20,732
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	52	$114,699	+14%	$20,093
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	51	$103,081	+85%	$13,596
885 Psychoses	51	$59,138	+34%	$16,582
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	39	$109,834	+10%	$20,459
683 Renal Failure with CC	38	$38,002	-7%	$9,919
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	35	$305,776	+32%	$54,505
493 Lower Extremity and Humerus Procedures except Hip, Foot and...	34	$110,422	-7%	$22,398
023 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	32	$247,694	-12%	$54,203
184 Major Chest Trauma with CC	31	$38,637	-30%	$14,340
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	30	$125,518	-10%	$26,896
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	29	$209,558	-8%	$47,772
083 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with CC	28	$56,366	-23%	$14,248
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	26	$105,330	-12%	$23,377
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	26	$55,197	+13%	$10,987
082 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour with MCC	23	$78,023	-32%	$22,525
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	23	$202,421	-6%	$50,498
331 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures without CC/MCC	21	$62,857	-27%	$16,558
071 Other Cerebrovascular Disorders with CC	20	$41,164	-18%	$11,484
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	20	$76,266	+28%	$20,297
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	20	$45,027	-20%	$12,956
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	20	$39,288	-11%	$9,973
101 Seizures without MCC	19	$36,912	-24%	$9,744
312 Syncope and Collapse	18	$39,850	-12%	$9,362
605 Trauma To The Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast without...	18	$42,100	-9%	$10,085
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	18	$41,114	-16%	$11,918
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	17	$87,408	-36%	$25,300
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	17	$44,141	+13%	$9,398
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	17	$32,464	-19%	$8,303
563 Fracture, Sprain, Strain and Dislocation except Femur, Hip,...	17	$38,429	-10%	$9,966
054 Nervous System Neoplasms with MCC	16	$75,423	-3%	$16,540
847 Chemotherapy without Acute Leukemia As Secondary Diagnosis...	16	$34,374	-49%	$12,677
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	15	$55,491	-8%	$13,892
682 Renal Failure with MCC	15	$66,183	0%	$15,334
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	15	$33,965	-10%	$8,884
948 Signs and Symptoms without MCC	15	$43,461	+14%	$8,683
024 Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex Cns...	14	$191,440	-1%	$35,786
070 Other Cerebrovascular Disorders with MCC	14	$58,863	-23%	$17,382
084 Traumatic Stupor and Coma >1 Hour without CC/MCC	14	$33,929	-36%	$9,732
100 Seizures with MCC	14	$75,728	-20%	$18,845
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	14	$59,889	+23%	$10,260
492 Lower Extremity and Humerus Procedures except Hip, Foot and...	14	$160,254	-3%	$35,683
603 Cellulitis without MCC	14	$28,511	-24%	$9,093
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	13	$41,857	-27%	$11,714
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	13	$33,903	-28%	$10,599
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	13	$100,712	-2%	$21,529
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	13	$31,921	-14%	$8,876
884 Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability	13	$52,013	-17%	$19,295
004 Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal Diagnosis except...	12	$304,940	-50%	$112,927
066 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction without...	12	$108,305	+156%	$19,599
200 Pneumothorax with CC	12	$36,487	-31%	$11,564
551 Medical Back Problems with MCC	12	$72,990	-7%	$17,394
917 Poisoning and Toxic Effects of Drugs with MCC	12	$67,276	-10%	$16,009
957 Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with...	12	$269,856	-32%	$71,274
963 Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC	12	$118,087	-15%	$26,793
981 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	12	$191,267	-12%	$43,686
982 Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated To Principal Diagnosis...	12	$195,753	+66%	$31,975
003 ECMO or Tracheostomy with MV >96 Hours or Principal...	11	$440,633	-58%	$134,871
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	11	$61,775	-19%	$16,212
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	11	$139,098	+47%	$28,505

Showing the 60 most frequent of 63 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	254	$11,146	$1,349
Comprehensive Observation Services	211	$15,354	$2,249
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	142	$20,904	$2,708
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	141	$14,503	$1,996
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	134	$19,512	$2,357
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	106	$13,125	$1,755
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	105	$22,401	$1,615
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	80	$35,930	$8,775
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	78	$45,762	$4,924
Level 2 Intraocular Procedures	71	$34,243	$3,464
Level 4 Airway Endoscopy	67	$27,258	$3,074
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	63	$16,232	$3,004
Level 2 Vascular Procedures	60	$9,617	$1,380
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	60	$138,924	$4,617
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	49	$7,768	$586
Level 1 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	47	$25,507	$3,223
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	42	$39,718	$5,405
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	42	$24,533	$4,458
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	32	$98,628	$9,227
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	30	$32,800	$4,746
Level 4 Gynecologic Procedures	30	$15,872	$2,532
Level 3 Airway Endoscopy	29	$26,788	$1,462
Level 4 ENT Procedures	28	$10,173	$1,625
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	22	$45,104	$5,605
Level 5 ENT Procedures	21	$37,649	$4,673

Against the Kentucky average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), University of Louisville Hospital charged $93,367 on average, 47% more than the Kentucky average of $63,454, and was paid $20,732 against a state average of $14,765. For Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC (DRG 481), University of Louisville Hospital charged $114,699 on average, 35% more than the Kentucky average of $85,014, and was paid $20,093 against a state average of $15,839. For Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or Tpa in 24 Hours (DRG 065), University of Louisville Hospital charged $103,081 on average, 121% more than the Kentucky average of $46,576, and was paid $13,596 against a state average of $8,034. For Psychoses (DRG 885), University of Louisville Hospital charged $59,138 on average, 134% more than the Kentucky average of $25,233, and was paid $16,582 against a state average of $10,812. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $11,146 was 7% below the state average of $11,961. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $15,354 was 24% below the state average of $20,333. For Level 3 Vascular Procedures (outpatient APC 5183), its average charge of $20,904 was 9% above the state average of $19,184. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $14,503 was 31% above the state average of $11,097.

Price-transparency record

CMS's enforcement list records these actions for a hospital named University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, KY, under the federal hospital price-transparency rule (45 CFR part 180), which requires hospitals to post their standard charges online:

Met Requirements — 2025-03-25 (CMS case 3408)

A warning notice or corrective-action request is not a finding of wrongdoing; "Met Requirements" and closure notices record that CMS's review ended. Matched to this hospital by exact name, city and state.

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.