What the data reveals
Original findings from 121 hospitals and 17 federal data sources. Every number is verified. Every insight links to the underlying data.
Hospital Price Index
A quarterly snapshot of published hospital prices in Virginia and North Carolina. Headline ranges, top procedures, system comparison — recomputed every quarter against an immutable database snapshot.
State pricing reports
Comprehensive analyses of hospital pricing in each state we cover. Verified findings, named hospitals, specific dollar amounts.
Virginia Hospital Pricing Report
8 findings from 64 hospitals
North Carolina Hospital Pricing Report
6 findings from 57 hospitals
Which VA & NC hospitals CMS warned in 2026
The hospitals federal regulators flagged for price-file compliance, from CMS enforcement data
Research & analysis
Deep dives into hospital pricing patterns — insurance anomalies, ownership gaps, safety penalties, and financial assistance most patients miss.
When Your Insurance Costs More Than Cash
58,439 commercial insurance rates exceed cash prices at Virginia and North Carolina hospitals. If you haven't met your deductible, you may be overpaying.
QualityBest Value Hospitals in Virginia
In Virginia, 4-5 star hospitals often charge less than 2-star hospitals for the same procedures. The data.
PricingFor-Profit vs Nonprofit Hospitals: Virginia Prices
For-profit hospitals charge 2.5-4x more than nonprofits in Virginia. The gap is widest for colonoscopies and cystoscopy.
Safety5 Virginia Hospitals Penalized by Medicare for Safety
Medicare penalizes hospitals in the bottom 25% for patient safety. Five Virginia hospitals are currently penalized.
InsuranceWhich Insurance Plans Pay the Most at Virginia Hospitals?
The average negotiated rate varies from $24 to $9,003 depending on your insurance plan. See how yours compares.
Financial AidHospital Financial Assistance You May Be Missing
A family earning $93,600 qualifies for free care at all 11 Sentara hospitals. Most eligible patients never apply.
Cash pricesDoes Paying Cash Help at the ER? It Depends Who Owns the Hospital
For the same Level 5 ER visit, one chain's posted cash price is a 60% discount and another's is no discount at all — by policy, in their own published files.
Financial AidWhere Virginia Hospitals Fall on Price and Charity Care
8 of 21 Virginia nonprofit hospitals charge commercial plans above the state median and report below-median charity care. 6 do the opposite.