Comparing Charges at Montana Hospitals

Spending your health care dollars wisely…
What you should consider when seeking medical care.

Making Informed Choices

This information can help you make informed choices. It is designed to show how health care costs for similar illnesses can vary by hospital. By using this information to let your health care providers know you plan to take an active role, you can make them more aware of the need for affordable, readily available care.

The information comes from the MHA COMPdata program. This data is grouped into illness categories which combined similar diagnoses and treatments. There is a brief description of each category.

The charges are averages based on the number of patients and total charges for that illness category as reported during the stated time frame. How long you are in the hospital, the level of care you receive, complications, special medical services, and fee increases all affect the costs of hospital services. Because these figures are averages, they will be different from what you are actually billed. Please note: these figures do not include Physician’s Professional Fees.

Use this information to talk with your doctor about how to get the best care while keeping costs down.

For more information on Comparing Charges at Montana Hospitals, please contact Roberta at MHA.

January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016
Average Hospital Charges for Common Diagnoses

 Inpatient Procedures
(MS DRG Code)		 Description Discharges Avg. Length of Stay Avg. Charges Avg. Charge Range Low – High
194 Pneumonia & Pleurisy with Complications 882 3.35 13,840 $5,480 – $24,509
292 Heart Failure 720 3.82 15,275 $5,947 – $27,205
313 Chest Pain 192 1.68 11,754 $4,588 – $19,999
470 Major Joint Replace/Reattach 5,552 2.48 39,228 $28,100 – $53,775
639 Diabetes without Complications 365 2.03 11,158 $5,638 – $18,160
690 Kidney & Urinary Tract Infections w/Comp. 807 3.03 11,079 $4,020 – $20,278
743 Hysterectomy 229 1.81 20,974 $11,834- $32,161
765 Delivery by Cesarean Section with Complications 1,288 3.91 19,839 $11,352 – $27,560
766 Delivery by Cesarean Section without Complications 1,981 2.96 14,973 $10,095 – $21,438
774 Normal Delivery with Complications 1,028 2.44 11,263 $5,847 – $16,748
775 Normal Delivery 6,153 1.89 9,157 $5,290 – $13,741
794 Newborn with Sig. Problems 2,380 2.35 4,477 $1,643 – $7384
795 Normal Newborn (Baby’s Bill) 7,042 1.82 2,831 $1,472 – $4,636
885 Psychoses 4,021 6.25 13,786 $4,633 – $26,627
 Outpatient Procedures
(CPT Code)		 Description Discharges Avg. Length of Stay Avg. Charge Avg. Charge Range Low – High
43239 Upper GI Endoscopy w Biopsy 4,344 . 1,675 $1,598 – $4,616
45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopy 4,725 . 1,383 $1,204 – $3,944
45380 Colonoscopy & Biopsy 6,272 . 1,745 $1,857 – $5,085
45385 Colonoscopy w lesion removal 6,482 . 1,545 $1,922 – $5,439
66984 Cataract Surgery 5,012 . 2,831 $3,060 – $5,488