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Hospital Profile Acute Care Hospital Voluntary non-profit - Other 325 Beds · urban Updated: 2026-02-14

Northside Hospital Cherokee

450 Northside Cherokee Boulevard, Canton, GA 30115 · 122 Priced Procedures · 87% Patient Recommendation

CMS Overall Rating 4 / 5 Stars
Pillar 1 · The BaseRate™ CompositeHow 1.00× Fair BaseRate Works: Raw price averages unfairly penalize hospitals in high-wage cities or trauma centers treating sicker patients. We adjust for local CMS hospital wage levels and patient complexity first. A 1.00× score means right at the fair price average, 0.85× means 15% cheaper than fair market, and 1.30× means 30% above fair market.Above Fair Market · Negotiate
1.40×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair Price+40% Above Fair Price 1.00× (center of the bar) is the U.S. fair price average after accounting for local hospital wages and patient complexity. Left of center (<1.00×) is below fair price; right of center (>1.00×) is above fair price.

Typical commercial prices here are +40% above the fair benchmark (1.40×) even after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

Pillar 2 · VeriRate™ Data TrustHow VeriRate™ (0–100) Works: Hospitals are legally required to publish machine-readable price files, but some bury fake $0.01 numbers or omit cash discounts. VeriRate audits each file across 5 checks (hover any badge below to see what it tests).78/100 · Corroborated
78/100Self-Pay Cash Beats Insurance 30% of the Time
File Completeness51Provenance (File Completeness): Checks whether the hospital published a complete, up-to-date machine-readable price file with valid CPT and MS-DRG billing codes instead of leaving blanks.
Price Logic81Coherence (Price Logic): Checks whether the hospital’s numbers make basic sense — e.g., self-pay cash price is lower than gross list price, with no fake $0.01 or $999,999 placeholder numbers.
Peer Alignment68Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing94Regularity (Clean Billing): Checks whether rates are structured consistently across procedures without erratic statistical spikes or hidden unbundled facility fees.
Real Cash Discount100Cash Honesty (Real Cash Discount): Checks whether the hospital offers a genuine self-pay cash discount that beats or matches commercial insurance rates instead of billing full sticker price.
Pillar 3 · Clinical Quality & ER SpeedChecks whether higher hospital prices actually buy better clinical quality — combining CMS Star Ratings, hospital safety scores, and emergency room wait times.High-Markup · Check Safety
CMS Star Rating4/5 StarsOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety Score74/100Composite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER Wait205 minMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.

4-Star CMS clinical quality rating paired with 1.40× fair market pricing.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintConsistent Department Multiples

Aligned Regional Benchmark Peer

Northside Hospital Cherokee prices shoppable and inpatient services (2.7× to 1.4× Medicare, divergence 0.52×) in alignment with regional hospital peers (1.40× Fair BaseRate). Reviewing plan-specific negotiated rates and cash discounts helps lock in the lowest out-of-pocket tier.

#62 of 100 in GA · 61st State Percentile#2,445 of 3,385 in U.S. · 72nd National Percentile
Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

  • Bottom-quartile procedures (Q25) price at 1.08× the peer BaseRate benchmark
  • Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 30% of shoppable procedures (99/100 Cash Honesty)
  • 4-Star CMS clinical rating with 87% patient recommendation (74/100 safety score)
  • IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (40.0% AGB cap)
Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

  • Even at low-cost facilities (1.40× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
  • Commercial insurance median sits at 1.31× Fair BaseRate (2.7× Medicare), so insured patients should always compare the self-pay cash price before paying.
  • Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 1.71×) jump +31% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 1.31×)
  • Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 14.6× Medicare (16¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
2.7× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER0.52× Divergence
1.4× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+31% Upper Tail
Q25 1.08× · Q50 1.31× · Q75 1.71×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.
Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×
Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable
2.7× MedicareFair
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
0.9× MedicareGood
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
4.3× MedicareElevated
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
1.6× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
4.4× MedicareWatchout
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
2.0× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
30% Cash Edge · 99/100Good
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
4 CMS · 74/100Fair

Procedure Prices at Northside Hospital Cherokee

High-impact clinical procedures (MRIs, surgeries, inpatient stays, visits) are prioritized first. Use the category pills or search bar to filter all 122 published procedures.

Sort:
Audit a Bill & 501(r) Cap ↓
Procedure & Billing Code This Hospital vs. Fair
Heart stent placement (inpatient stay)
MS-DRG Code: 322
 $23,135 1.3×
Sepsis treatment (inpatient stay)
MS-DRG Code: 871
 $16,787 0.9×
Hip or knee replacement (inpatient stay)
MS-DRG Code: 470
 $16,686 0.9×
Total knee replacement
CPT Code: 27447
 $11,990 0.9×
Total hip replacement
CPT Code: 27130
 $11,202 0.8×
Rabies immune globulin
HCPCS Code: 90375
 $8,501 26.4×
Digestive disorders treatment (inpatient stay)
MS-DRG Code: 392
 $7,859 1.0×
Trauma team activation
HCPCS Code: G0390
 $7,280 5.0×
Bunion correction surgery
CPT Code: 28296
 $6,053 1.8×
Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
CPT Code: 29881
 $4,895 1.5×
Cataract surgery with lens implant
CPT Code: 66984
 $4,274 1.7×
Vaginal delivery (full package)
CPT Code: 59400
 $4,154 1.6×
Upper endoscopy with biopsy
CPT Code: 43239
 $3,669 3.7×
C-section delivery (full package)
CPT Code: 59510
 $3,137 1.1×
Injection procedure for pain management
HCPCS Code: G0260
 $2,511 2.9×
Blood transfusion
CPT Code: 36430
 $2,440 4.9×
Hepatitis B immune globulin
HCPCS Code: 90371
 $1,807 12.0×
Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic)
CPT Code: 47562
 $1,676 0.3×
MRI, lower back (no contrast)
CPT Code: 72148
 $1,491 4.4×
MRI, brain (no contrast)
CPT Code: 70551
 $1,491 4.3×
MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
CPT Code: 70553
 $1,491 unverified
Inguinal hernia repair
CPT Code: 49505
 $1,309 0.4×
MRI, knee or other leg joint
CPT Code: 73721
 $1,266 3.4×
CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine)
CPT Code: 72131
 $1,128 6.7×
CT scan, neck (cervical spine)
CPT Code: 72125
 $1,128 6.7×
Showing top 25 high-impact procedures of 122 total
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 40.0%

Audit a Bill or Quote at Northside Hospital Cherokee (Zero PHI Required)

CMS CCN: 110008
CPT 322
Fair BaseRate™ $17,936
Medicare Rate $12,807
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $23,135
Pre-filled with Northside Hospital Cherokee’s charged/list benchmark
Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines
2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person
Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 501(r) AGB Cap: $22,210 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $22,210

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (40.0% of gross = $22,210).

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Request Prompt-Pay Quote

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask Northside Hospital Cherokee's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target +$37,588 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $17,936 Fair BaseRate ($12,807 Medicare)

Your bill ($55,524) is $37,588 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($17,936) and 4.3× the $12,807 Medicare rate.

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.
IRS Form 990 Schedule H & 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Hospital

Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) & Amounts Generally Billed (AGB)

Free Care Eligibility BenchmarkUp to 200% FPL100% charity write-off income threshold
Discounted Care EligibilityUp to 400% FPLSliding-scale & AGB billing cap tier
Charity Care Share of ExpensesSee Schedule HNet community financial assistance reported
26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) AGB Benchmark Method: lookback_commercial_median

Hospital-Specific CMS HCRIS Benchmark (40.0% of gross charges)

Under 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5), a tax-exempt hospital organization may not bill FAP-eligible patients more than Amounts Generally Billed (AGB) to individuals with insurance covering emergency or medically necessary care. Derived from this facility’s reported CMS HCRIS cost-to-charge & insurer allowance filings. Verify your exact Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) determination directly with the billing office.

Screen your household size, income, and itemized CPT codes against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines: Calculate Your 501(r) Cap Above ↑
CMS Care Compare Public Quality Record

Clinical Quality, Patient Experience & Infection Benchmarks

CMS Overall4/5 Stars (4/5)
Safety Composite74/100
Would Recommend87%
Rated 9 or 10 (HCAHPS)85%
Median ER Wait205 min
Left ER Before Seen1%
30-Day Mortality vs U.S.better
Unplanned Readmissionsame
Hip/Knee Complication Rate3.9%

Healthcare-Associated Infections (CDC NHSN / CMS HAI)

1.00 SIR = National Predicted Baseline (Lower Is Safer)
Central-Line Bloodstream Infectionsame
C. diff Hospital-Onset Infectionbetter

CMS Price Transparency Administrative Enforcement Log

Factual public administrative actions published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding 45 CFR § 180 compliance at Northside Hospital Cherokee. Prior administrative notices do not necessarily reflect current compliance status.

  • 2024-11-14·administrative_or_closure

    Met Requirements

    Recorded
  • 2022-08-01·administrative_or_closure

    Closure Notice

    Recorded
  • 2022-06-07·cmp_monetary_penalty

    CMP Notice

    Recorded
  • 2021-10-27·cap_corrective_action

    CAP Request

    Recorded
  • 2021-05-18·warning_notice

    Warning Notice

    Recorded

Source: CMS Hospital Care Compare (3,142 completed HCAHPS patient surveys). Clinical quality metrics summarize historical facility-wide cohorts and are not medical advice for individual care decisions.

Care-Setting Arbitrage, Bilateral SVD Insurer Leverage & Regional Alternatives

How to Pay Less Nearby: Freestanding Centers, Insurer Leverage & Outpatient Savings

Higher-Quality, Above-Median Price Tier Pareto Frontier (Price + Quality)

2D regional comparison of commercial negotiated price index against CMS clinical quality composite for Northside Hospital Cherokee.

Price Index: 1.40× regional baseline
Quality: 85/100 CMS composite

Notable Payer Contract Outliers (SVD Matrix Anomalies)

Employers Choice Network
-51.8%
Bccp
-50.8%
Median Household Income$105,442U.S. Census ACS
Local Uninsured Share10.8%Regional ACS estimate
200% FPL (1 Person)$31,920Common free-care ceiling
400% FPL (Family of 4)$128,600Common AGB cap ceiling
45 CFR § 180 Primary-Source Lineage & Federal Verification VeriRate 78/100 · Corroborated CMS CCN 110008

Verify the Raw Data: Official Hospital MRF, CMS Medicare.gov & Federal Filings

MRF Portal Indexed (CMS_45_CFR_180_FILING.json) Verify on CMS Medicare.gov (CCN 110008) ↗ CMS HCRIS Cost Reports ↗
Published MRF FileCMS_45_CFR_180_FILING.json
Publication / Vintage2026-02-14
Validated Rate Rows18,505 (CMS v3.0.0)
File Integrity DigestVerified · CCN 110008

Safe-Harbor Data Corrections: Parsed directly from public 45 CFR § 180 hospital filings, CMS Care Compare, and CMS HCRIS cost reports. Hospital compliance officers may submit updated MRF URLs or rate tables for verification.

Submit MRF Update Correction Policy