Georgia / Wellstar Cobb Medical Center

CMS certification 110143 · Austell, GA · 4 entries in CMS's price-transparency list

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center: charges and Medicare payments

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center reported 1,739 Medicare inpatient stays across 63 DRGs in 2024. Across them it charged 6.3 times what it was paid — among the higher ratios in Georgia, number 11 of 74 hospitals with at least 100 stays (state median 4.44×, national 4.15×). Its most frequent stay was DRG 871, Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC: 200 stays at an average charge of $138,844, 54% above the national average. It also billed 1,370 outpatient services, charging 10.9 times what Medicare paid.

1Medicare inpatient stays 1,739
2Charge ÷ paid, inpatient 6.3×
3Rank in GA (highest ratio = 1) 11 of 74
4CMS price-transparency actions 4

Average charge per stay at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, 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, Wellstar Cobb Medical Center charged more than the national average in 57 (90%). 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	200	$138,844	+54%	$19,580
291 Heart Failure and Shock with MCC	95	$100,797	+79%	$14,938
280 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC	74	$131,353	+73%	$17,122
640 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	66	$99,660	+65%	$15,099
177 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with MCC	63	$118,942	+68%	$16,573
193 Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC	59	$119,594	+100%	$13,655
689 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections with MCC	52	$74,998	+46%	$11,846
683 Renal Failure with CC	47	$48,019	+18%	$10,476
853 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases with O.R. Procedures with...	46	$366,184	+60%	$49,857
885 Psychoses	41	$48,610	+10%	$13,441
641 Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and...	38	$56,938	+54%	$9,247
682 Renal Failure with MCC	35	$89,531	+36%	$14,545
698 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC	35	$72,132	-2%	$15,458
312 Syncope and Collapse	33	$57,854	+27%	$9,698
872 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours without MCC	33	$52,232	+6%	$11,167
064 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC	32	$122,176	+22%	$18,123
378 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with CC	29	$74,943	+54%	$12,500
811 Red Blood Cell Disorders with MCC	28	$104,313	+53%	$13,763
252 Other Vascular Procedures with MCC	26	$331,837	+94%	$53,220
377 Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage with MCC	25	$130,911	+53%	$16,182
392 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	25	$68,939	+72%	$9,793
637 Diabetes with MCC	25	$74,729	+12%	$16,070
065 Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with CC or...	23	$64,680	+16%	$11,286
100 Seizures with MCC	23	$109,214	+16%	$17,816
189 Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure	23	$94,676	+64%	$16,339
190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC	22	$67,468	+33%	$11,078
481 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with CC	21	$114,699	+14%	$18,352
286 Circulatory Disorders except AMI, with Cardiac...	20	$136,113	+21%	$18,579
552 Medical Back Problems without MCC	20	$64,721	+32%	$14,978
281 Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with CC	19	$50,694	0%	$9,645
690 Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections without MCC	19	$43,901	+16%	$9,327
812 Red Blood Cell Disorders without MCC	19	$100,087	+125%	$14,587
069 Transient Ischemia without Thrombolytic	17	$58,809	+17%	$10,572
309 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with CC	17	$48,506	+34%	$8,288
314 Other Circulatory System Diagnoses with MCC	17	$151,643	+60%	$21,198
391 Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive...	17	$63,378	+4%	$12,650
394 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC	17	$52,014	+11%	$11,307
603 Cellulitis without MCC	16	$56,720	+52%	$9,956
638 Diabetes with CC	16	$61,599	+48%	$9,943
101 Seizures without MCC	15	$56,526	+16%	$9,832
393 Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC	15	$94,305	+23%	$15,262
178 Respiratory Infections and Inflammations with CC	14	$82,648	+82%	$9,679
305 Hypertension without MCC	14	$40,469	+1%	$8,277
480 Hip and Femur Procedures except Major Joint with MCC	14	$162,941	+17%	$22,519
563 Fracture, Sprain, Strain and Dislocation except Femur, Hip,...	14	$53,188	+25%	$10,268
699 Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC	14	$56,075	+18%	$11,930
928 Full Thickness Burn with Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury...	14	$265,901	-23%	$57,483
935 Non-Extensive Burns	14	$73,613	-28%	$18,735
299 Peripheral Vascular Disorders with MCC	13	$103,293	+37%	$15,023
313 Chest Pain	13	$39,821	0%	$7,871
602 Cellulitis with MCC	13	$78,572	+31%	$18,060
617 Amputation of Lower Limb for Endocrine, Nutritional and...	13	$146,505	+69%	$50,141
202 Bronchitis and Asthma with CC/MCC	12	$66,089	+43%	$10,561
308 Cardiac Arrhythmia and Conduction Disorders with MCC	12	$106,740	+88%	$12,403
460 Spinal Fusion except Cervical without MCC	12	$263,343	+55%	$51,631
870 Septicemia or Severe Sepsis with MV >96 Hours	12	$402,379	+24%	$79,018
884 Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability	12	$60,788	-3%	$16,057
071 Other Cerebrovascular Disorders with CC	11	$68,207	+35%	$11,098
300 Peripheral Vascular Disorders with CC	11	$60,625	+23%	$11,268
304 Hypertension with MCC	11	$76,505	+34%	$11,847

Showing the 60 most frequent of 63 DRGs.

Outpatient services

Service (APC)	Services	Avg charge	Medicare allowed
Comprehensive Observation Services	150	$32,828	$2,513
Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	128	$14,631	$1,607
Level 2 Urology and Related Services	110	$4,306	$386
Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage	85	$19,069	$1,445
Level 1 Laparoscopy and Related Services	84	$52,143	$5,102
Level 5 Musculoskeletal Procedures	75	$99,544	$11,579
Level 1 Endovascular Procedures	58	$31,886	$2,955
Level 5 Urology and Related Services	55	$43,901	$4,802
Level 3 Vascular Procedures	54	$37,328	$2,914
Level 4 Vascular Procedures	53	$62,248	$5,100
Level 3 Urology and Related Services	47	$23,686	$1,620
Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related Services	45	$100,738	$9,244
Level 4 Gynecologic Procedures	42	$30,161	$2,229
Level 4 Urology and Related Services	40	$28,059	$3,090
Level 3 Musculoskeletal Procedures	35	$35,626	$2,425
Level 1 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	34	$33,504	$3,537
Level 2 ICD and Similar Procedures	29	$170,955	$30,440
Level 4 Musculoskeletal Procedures	28	$60,922	$5,312
Level 6 Musculoskeletal Procedures	27	$110,831	$17,258
Level 3 Lower GI Procedures	23	$25,171	$1,926
Level 3 Pacemaker and Similar Procedures	22	$52,351	$9,902
Level 3 Electrophysiologic Procedures	19	$126,748	$21,984
Level 2 Breast/Lymphatic Surgery and Related Procedures	18	$58,901	$5,648
Level 2 Vascular Procedures	16	$10,157	$1,412
Level 1 Abdominal/Peritoneal/Biliary and Related Procedures	15	$65,642	$3,211

Against the Georgia average

For Septicemia or Severe Sepsis without MV >96 Hours with MCC (DRG 871), Wellstar Cobb Medical Center charged $138,844 on average, 63% more than the Georgia average of $85,396, and was paid $19,580 against a state average of $17,147. For Heart Failure and Shock with MCC (DRG 291), Wellstar Cobb Medical Center charged $100,797 on average, 91% more than the Georgia average of $52,781, and was paid $14,938 against a state average of $12,005. For Acute Myocardial Infarction, Discharged Alive with MCC (DRG 280), Wellstar Cobb Medical Center charged $131,353 on average, 73% more than the Georgia average of $76,091, and was paid $17,122 against a state average of $13,912. For Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and Electrolytes with MCC (DRG 640), Wellstar Cobb Medical Center charged $99,660 on average, 77% more than the Georgia average of $56,443, and was paid $15,099 against a state average of $12,676. For Comprehensive Observation Services (outpatient APC 8011), its average charge of $32,828 was 57% above the state average of $20,900. For Level 3 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5073), its average charge of $14,631 was 41% below the state average of $24,766. For Level 2 Urology and Related Services (outpatient APC 5372), its average charge of $4,306 was 9% below the state average of $4,740. For Level 2 Excision/ Biopsy/ Incision and Drainage (outpatient APC 5072), its average charge of $19,069 was 47% above the state average of $12,974.

Price-transparency record

CMS's enforcement list records these actions for a hospital named Wellstar Cobb Medical Center in Austell, GA, under the federal hospital price-transparency rule (45 CFR part 180), which requires hospitals to post their standard charges online:

Warning Notice — 2024-03-08 (CMS case 1598)
CAP Request — 2024-06-13 (CMS case 1598)
Closure Notice — 2024-07-31 (CMS case 1598)
Met Requirements — 2025-06-04 (CMS case 4901)

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.