Virginia Hospital Pricing Report
Updated April 2026 — 8 findings from 40 hospitals, 17 federal data sources, 24,653 insurance rates
A CT scan of the chest costs $489 at one Virginia hospital and $6,248 at another. These are prices each hospital published in their federally mandated machine-readable files under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule.
| Procedure | Lowest | Highest | Difference | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT Chest without Contrast | $489 | $6,248 | $5,759 | 12.8x |
| MRI Brain without Contrast | $781 | $7,811 | $7,030 | 10.0x |
| MRI Brain with Contrast | $886 | $7,811 | $6,925 | 8.8x |
| CT Abdomen/Pelvis with Contrast | $1,064 | $5,869 | $4,805 | 5.5x |
| MRI Brain with & without Contrast | $1,479 | $7,981 | $6,502 | 5.4x |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair | $9,656 | $37,067 | $27,411 | 3.8x |
| Total Hip Replacement | $11,995 | $39,467 | $27,472 | 3.3x |
20.3% of insurance negotiated rates — 5,016 of 24,653 rate records — exceed the hospital's own published cash price.
| Procedure | Hospital | Cash Price | Insurance Rate | You Overpay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ovarian Cyst Removal | UVA Haymarket | $17,282 | $34,123 (UHC) | +$16,840 |
| Cholecystectomy | UVA Haymarket | $18,035 | $34,123 (UHC) | +$16,087 |
| Knee Arthroscopy | UVA Haymarket | $9,287 | $24,734 (UHC) | +$15,446 |
| Knee Replacement | UVA Culpeper | $29,064 | $42,344 (Anthem) | +$13,279 |
| Hip Replacement | UVA Culpeper | $29,502 | $42,344 (Anthem) | +$12,841 |
Below-average price hospitals: 3.82 stars, 72% satisfaction. Above-average price hospitals: 3.29 stars, 68%.
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Satisfaction | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Health | 4 stars | 68% | $617 |
| Inova Alexandria | 4 stars | 70% | $751 |
| Inova Loudoun | 5 stars | 76% | $751 |
| Inova Fair Oaks | 5 stars | 79% | $751 |
| Inova Fairfax | 5 stars | 76% | $751 |
| Sovah Health Danville | 2 stars | — | $4,786 |
| Ownership | Avg Price | Hospitals | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government | $1,027 | 1 | — |
| Nonprofit (Other) | $1,464 | 8 | +43% |
| Nonprofit (Private) | $1,783 | 22 | +74% |
| For-Profit | $3,465 | 8 | +237% |
| System | Free Care Threshold | Family of 4 Limit | Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inova | 400% FPL | $124,800 | 5 |
| Sentara | 300% FPL | $93,600 | 11 |
| UVA Health | 200% FPL | $62,400 | 3 |
| VCU Health | 200% FPL | $62,400 | 1 |
| Carilion | 200% FPL | $62,400 | 6 |
A family of four earning $93,600 or less qualifies for free care at any Sentara hospital. Under $124,800 qualifies at all Inova hospitals. Most eligible patients never apply.
Sentara operates most Hampton Roads hospitals, yet charges 40% below the state average. In Northern Virginia, five systems compete — MRI Brain without contrast ranges from $781 (Inova) to $7,811 (HCA facility) within 25 miles.
| ER Level | Lowest | Highest | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 (Moderate) | $378 | $3,720 | 9.8x |
| Level 4 (High) | $631 | $4,376 | 6.9x |
| Level 5 (Critical) | $982 | $5,069 | 5.2x |
| System | Officer Comp | Charity Care | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inova | $22.0M | $159.1M | $7.23 per $1 |
| Sentara | $12.1M | $105.7M | $8.74 per $1 |
| Carilion | $0.3M | $12.3M | $41 per $1 |
| VCU Health | $0.7M | $1.2M | $1.71 per $1 |
Officer compensation from IRS 990 filings. Charity care from CMS Cost Reports.
Important Context
- Facility fees only. Prices shown are facility fees published by each hospital. Professional fees (radiologist, surgeon, anesthesiologist) are typically billed separately and are not included in the prices shown.
- Insurance rates are not your out-of-pocket cost. Insurance rates shown are the negotiated amount between the hospital and insurer. Your actual cost depends on your deductible status, copay percentage, and coinsurance terms.
- Inpatient vs outpatient. Imaging, lab, and screening prices are outpatient. Surgical procedure prices (hip replacement, hernia repair, cholecystectomy) may reflect inpatient facility fees including the hospital stay.
- Financial data timing. Charity care amounts and executive compensation reflect the most recent IRS 990 and CMS Cost Report filings, which may be from 1-2 fiscal years prior. Hospital prices are from files downloaded April 2026.
- Financial assistance requires application. Eligibility thresholds shown are from each system's published Financial Assistance Policy. Patients must apply and provide income documentation. Asset limits may apply (e.g., Sentara requires under $50,000 in assets). Thresholds may change — always confirm directly with the hospital.
- Quality vs price correlation. The finding that cheaper hospitals have higher ratings on average is a correlation across all Virginia hospitals. It does not mean every cheap hospital is high quality. Individual hospital quality should be evaluated independently.
Data Sources & Methodology
Every number traces to a verified federal source. All comparisons use the same CPT/HCPCS procedure code across hospitals. 17 data sources merged on CMS Certification Number (CCN) — the unique 6-digit identifier assigned to every Medicare-participating hospital.
Price data: Hospital Machine-Readable Files (45 CFR Part 180) — downloaded directly from each hospital's website, April 2026.
Quality data: CMS Hospital Compare (star ratings), HCAHPS Patient Satisfaction Survey, CMS Timely & Effective Care, CMS Complications & Deaths, CMS Unplanned Hospital Visits.
Safety data: CMS Healthcare-Associated Infections (MRSA, C.diff, CLABSI), CMS Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (penalties), CMS Value-Based Purchasing (quality scores), Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary.
Financial data: CMS Cost Reports (charity care, revenue, net income), IRS 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (officer compensation), Hospital Financial Assistance Policies (ACA Section 501(r)).
Additional: Medicare Inpatient Utilization, CMS ASC Quality Reporting, CMS ASC Payment Rates (Addendum AA/BB).
We do not estimate prices. Every price is a price a hospital published. Every quality score is a score CMS calculated.
Compare hospitals at www.hospitalcost.com
Contact: richard@hospitalcost.com
This report is for consumer education purposes only. It is not medical advice. Actual costs depend on your insurance plan, deductible status, clinical circumstances, and negotiated rates. HospitalCost is not affiliated with any hospital, health system, insurance company, or government agency. Published April 2026.