University of Texas Medical Branch: charges and Medicare payments

University of Texas Medical Branch reported 3,917 Medicare inpatient stays across 108 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 3.09 times what it was paid — among the lower ratios in Texas, number 173 of 190 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 5.35×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 330 stays at an average charge of $67,097, 26% below the national average. It also billed 3,918 outpatient services, charging 8.27 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 3,917
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 3.09×
3Rank in TX (highest ratio = 1) 173 of 190
4CMS price-transparency actions 0

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

Inpatient stays

For the 108 DRGs that can be compared with the national average, University of Texas Medical Branch charged more than the national average in 7 (6%). 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	330	$67,097	-26%	$23,223
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	227	$38,619	-32%	$15,440
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	142	$49,825	-29%	$19,476
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	124	$54,080	-29%	$19,773
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	119	$41,155	-31%	$16,071
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	102	$46,094	-20%	$15,192
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	87	$30,587	-40%	$14,474
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	83	$25,824	-32%	$11,224
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	81	$36,085	-40%	$16,181
274 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures without MCC	78	$98,572	-37%	$33,401
682 Renal Failure with MCC	72	$36,095	-45%	$17,006
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	70	$83,572	-17%	$23,921
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	70	$53,262	-27%	$19,921
683 Renal Failure with CC	68	$25,047	-38%	$11,883
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	66	$82,198	-27%	$25,009
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	62	$193,437	-16%	$58,130
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	58	$23,040	-43%	$10,711
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	56	$25,857	-30%	$10,873
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	53	$36,590	-35%	$14,752
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	53	$41,509	-15%	$13,274
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	53	$37,977	-20%	$13,540
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	51	$78,087	-9%	$21,251
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	50	$75,941	-24%	$23,294
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	45	$24,430	-32%	$9,734
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	44	$37,633	-32%	$12,955
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	43	$28,952	-41%	$13,685
603 Cellulitis without MCC	41	$23,402	-37%	$11,788
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	40	$38,219	-24%	$12,158
522 Hip Replacement with Principal Diagnosis of Hip Fracture...	39	$103,133	+1%	$24,263
208 Respiratory System Diagnosis with Ventilator Support <=96...	38	$89,462	-34%	$30,512
270 Other Major Cardiovascular Procedures with MCC	37	$246,636	-5%	$59,788
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	36	$41,098	-19%	$13,846
101 Seizures without MCC	33	$29,379	-40%	$12,224
321 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	31	$137,375	-16%	$33,136
322 Percutaneous Cardiovascular Procedures with Intraluminal...	31	$118,957	+4%	$27,249
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	31	$109,093	-21%	$32,643
389 Gastrointestinal Obstruction with CC	29	$17,262	-56%	$10,702
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	29	$35,420	-27%	$12,374
100 Seizures with MCC	28	$68,160	-28%	$24,174
236 Coronary Bypass without Cardiac Catheterization without MCC	28	$156,203	-26%	$39,533
287 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	28	$42,386	-34%	$13,208
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	28	$37,894	-38%	$16,438
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	28	$27,032	-39%	$11,707
811 Red Blood Cell Disorders with MCC	27	$48,565	-29%	$18,424
025 Craniotomy and Endovascular Intracranial Procedures with MCC	25	$216,163	-7%	$51,464
194 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC	25	$30,975	-19%	$11,518
252 Other Vascular Procedures with MCC	25	$129,791	-24%	$39,756
312 Syncope and Collapse	25	$27,313	-40%	$11,455
329 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with MCC	25	$170,790	-21%	$49,662
330 Major Small and Large Bowel Procedures with CC	25	$107,270	-10%	$27,269
253 Other Vascular Procedures with CC	23	$112,114	-15%	$28,463
273 Percutaneous and Other Intracardiac Procedures with MCC	23	$174,104	-19%	$46,521
432 Cirrhosis and Alcoholic Hepatitis with MCC	23	$54,122	-43%	$22,467
175 Pulmonary Embolism with MCC or Acute Cor Pulmonale	22	$40,912	-37%	$16,384
242 Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker Implant with MCC	22	$134,659	-16%	$37,213
267 Endovascular Cardiac Valve Replacement and Supplement...	22	$197,589	-11%	$49,647
310 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders without CC/MCC	21	$15,741	-45%	$7,943
638 Diabetes with CC	21	$23,768	-43%	$11,735
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	19	$72,344	-24%	$25,603
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	19	$33,142	-30%	$12,824

Showing the 60 most frequent of 108 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Comprehensive Observation Services	769	$16,740	$2,522
Level 1 Intraocular Procedures	417	$12,317	$2,124
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	286	$2,586	$603
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	212	$14,262	$1,470
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	191	$23,735	$2,960
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	170	$11,537	$1,866
Level 1 Nerve Procedures	138	$23,379	$1,728
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	113	$145,259	$21,669
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	106	$29,395	$4,771
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	92	$41,599	$6,389
Level 3 Endovascular Procedures	87	$71,487	$9,883
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	84	$39,483	$5,058
Level 3 Airway Endoscopy	82	$8,495	$1,558
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	81	$74,987	$11,770
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	76	$23,755	$2,956
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	73	$44,363	$4,830
Level 2 Upper GI Procedures	67	$20,433	$1,764
Level 3 Lower GI Procedures	63	$29,772	$2,520
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	57	$22,748	$3,001
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	56	$26,486	$2,635
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	53	$23,630	$3,172
Level 2 Endovascular Procedures	51	$32,948	$5,300
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	51	$23,930	$3,182
Level 2 Musculoskeletal Procedures	44	$13,691	$1,443
Level 3 Extraocular, Repair, and Plastic Eye Procedures	42	$13,221	$2,167

Against the Texas average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), University of Texas Medical Branch charged $67,097 on average, 40% less than the Texas average of $111,133, and was paid $23,223 against a state average of $16,694. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), University of Texas Medical Branch charged $38,619 on average, 43% less than the Texas average of $67,944, and was paid $15,440 against a state average of $11,820. For Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC (DRG 177), University of Texas Medical Branch charged $49,825 on average, 39% less than the Texas average of $81,715, and was paid $19,476 against a state average of $13,815. For Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC (DRG 280), University of Texas Medical Branch charged $54,080 on average, 42% less than the Texas average of $92,713, and was paid $19,773 against a state average of $13,694. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $16,740 was 40% below the state average of $27,955. For Level 1 Intraocular Procedures (outpatient APC 5491), its average charge of $12,317 was 25% below the state average of $16,442. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $2,586 was 30% below the state average of $3,679. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $14,262 was 1% above the state average of $14,089.

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.