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Hospital Profile Critical Access Hospital Voluntary non-profit - Church 25 Beds · rural Updated: 2026-02-28

CHI Mercy Health

570 Chautauqua Blvd, Valley City, ND 58072 · 70 Priced Procedures · 78% Patient Recommendation

CMS Overall Rating 5 / 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.High Markup · Shop Alternatives
3.93×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair Price+293% 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 +293% above the fair benchmark (3.93×) 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).74/100 · Corroborated
74/100Self-Pay Cash Beats Insurance 93% of the Time
File Completeness100Provenance (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 Logic40Coherence (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 Alignment75Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing63Regularity (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 Rating5/5 StarsOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety Score72/100Composite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER Wait94 minMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.

5-Star CMS clinical quality rating paired with 3.93× fair market pricing.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintUpper-Quartile Spread · +117% Tail Jump

Wide Procedure Spread · Upper-Quartile Skew Pricer

CHI Mercy Health prices routine shoppable procedures at 6.3× Medicare (median 2.91× Fair BaseRate) while upper-quartile commercial rates jump +117% to 6.32× Fair BaseRate. Self-pay cash discounts and comparing specific CPT procedure codes before scheduling yield the strongest savings.

#23 of 23 in ND · 95th State Percentile#3,378 of 3,385 in U.S. · 99th National Percentile
Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

  • Bottom-quartile procedures (Q25) price at 2.02× the peer BaseRate benchmark
  • Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 93% of shoppable procedures (99/100 Cash Honesty)
  • 5-Star CMS clinical rating with 78% patient recommendation (72/100 safety score)
  • IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (82.0% AGB cap)
Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

  • Outpatient surgery & OR suites carry a 2.2× markup over Medicare rates
  • Commercial insurance median sits at 2.91× Fair BaseRate (6.3× Medicare), so insured patients should always compare the self-pay cash price before paying.
  • Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 6.32×) jump +117% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 2.91×)
  • Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 9.0× Medicare (29¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
6.3× Medicare

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

Back-Door Captive & ER0.40× Divergence
2.5× Medicare

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

Quantile Tail Spread+117% Upper Tail
Q25 2.02× · Q50 2.91× · Q75 6.32×

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
6.3× MedicareWatchout
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
2.2× MedicareFair
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
1.9× MedicareGood
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
1.7× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
2.2× MedicareFair
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
1.7× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
93% Cash Edge · 99/100Good
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
5 CMS · 72/100Fair

Procedure Prices at CHI Mercy Health

High-impact clinical procedures (MRIs, surgeries, inpatient stays, visits) are prioritized first. Use the category pills or search bar to filter all 70 published procedures.

Sort:
Audit a Bill & 501(r) Cap ↓
Procedure & Billing Code This Hospital vs. Fair
Total hip replacement
CPT Code: 27130
 $17,556 1.3×
Total knee replacement
CPT Code: 27447
 $17,556 1.3×
MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
CPT Code: 70553
 $3,713 7.3×
Rabies immune globulin
HCPCS Code: 90375
 $3,430 10.7×
MRI, knee or other leg joint
CPT Code: 73721
 $3,038 unverified
MRI, lower back (no contrast)
CPT Code: 72148
 $2,544 7.5×
Sleep study (overnight, in lab)
CPT Code: 95810
 $2,477 2.4×
MRI, brain (no contrast)
CPT Code: 70551
 $2,147 6.3×
CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (with contrast)
CPT Code: 74177
 $2,014 4.5×
CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
CPT Code: 70470
 $1,670 6.5×
CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine)
CPT Code: 72131
 $1,623 9.7×
CT scan, neck (cervical spine)
CPT Code: 72125
 $1,599 9.5×
CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (no contrast)
CPT Code: 74176
 $1,588 5.2×
CT scan, head (with contrast)
CPT Code: 70460
 $1,529 6.3×
CT scan, chest (no contrast)
CPT Code: 71250
 $1,374 8.2×
CT scan, sinuses
CPT Code: 70486
 $1,327 8.0×
CT scan, pelvis
CPT Code: 72192
 $1,252 7.7×
CT scan, head (no contrast)
CPT Code: 70450
 $1,092 6.8×
Blood transfusion
CPT Code: 36430
 $1,059 2.1×
Ultrasound, leg veins (duplex)
CPT Code: 93970
 $902 3.3×
Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
CPT Code: 93306
 $820 1.4×
Diagnostic mammogram (both breasts)
CPT Code: 77066
 $783 unverified
Screening mammogram (both breasts)
CPT Code: 77067
 $649 unverified
Ultrasound, abdomen (complete)
CPT Code: 76700
 $535 4.0×
Ultrasound, pelvis
CPT Code: 76856
 $497 3.8×
Showing top 25 high-impact procedures of 70 total
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 82.0%

Audit a Bill or Quote at CHI Mercy Health (Zero PHI Required)

CMS CCN: 351324
CPT 27130
Fair BaseRate™ $13,413
Medicare Rate $13,117
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $17,556
Pre-filled with CHI Mercy Health’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: $34,550 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $34,550

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (82.0% of gross = $34,550).

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

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask CHI Mercy Health'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 +$28,721 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $13,413 Fair BaseRate ($13,117 Medicare)

Your bill ($42,134) is $28,721 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($13,413) and 3.2× the $13,117 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)

EIN: 450226553
Filing Period: 194603
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 (82.0% 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 Overall5/5 Stars (5/5)
Safety Composite72/100
Would Recommend78%
Rated 9 or 10 (HCAHPS)70%
Median ER Wait94 min
Left ER Before Seen0%
30-Day Mortality vs U.S.same
Unplanned Readmissionsame

Source: CMS Hospital Care Compare (51 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 CHI Mercy Health.

Price Index: 1.54× regional baseline
Quality: 83/100 CMS composite
Median Household Income$70,230U.S. Census ACS
Local Uninsured Share4.8%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 74/100 · Corroborated CMS CCN 351324 EIN 450226553

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

Download Official Hospital MRF ↗ Verify on CMS Medicare.gov (CCN 351324) ↗ Verify IRS Form 990 (EIN 450226553) ↗ CMS HCRIS Cost Reports ↗
Published MRF File450226553-1477549111_mercy-hospital-of-valley-city_standardcharges.json
Publication / Vintage2026-02-28 · 11.44 MB
Validated Rate Rows636 (CMS v3.0.0)
File Integrity Digesta1ecfe47ac35e0902c92…

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