Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare's average activation fees can be up to $50,000 per patient, according to Kaiser Health News.
In its report, KHN used 2020 data on trauma-team activation charges, or HCPCS code G0390, to compare the average trauma activation fee of HCA trauma centers versus non-HCA trauma centers. Data came from Hospital Pricing Specialists and Medicare outpatient claims.
Here is how the fees stack up in 14 states, listed by highest average activation fee from an HCA trauma center:
Nevada
Average HCA fee: $53,153
Average non-HCA fee: $27,507
Kansas
Average HCA fee: $49,232
Average non-HCA fee: $3,320
Louisiana
Average HCA fee: $40,504
Average non-HCA fee: $7,232
California
Average HCA fee: $38,894
Average non-HCA fee: $18,253
Idaho
Average HCA fee: $29,312
Average non-HCA fee: $2,574
Texas
Average HCA fee: $28,514
Average non-HCA fee: $6,691
Florida
Average HCA fee: $28,404
Average non-HCA fee: $8,533
Indiana
Average HCA fee: $18,360
Average non-HCA fee: $9,304
New Hampshire
Average HCA fee: $17,000
Average non-HCA fee: $2,449
Tennessee
Average HCA fee: $15,391
Average non-HCA fee: $7,345
Georgia
Average HCA fee: $15,000
Average non-HCA fee: $7,485
Virginia
Average HCA fee: $12,176
Average non-HCA fee: $6,282
Utah
Average HCA fee: $9,824
Average non-HCA fee: $4,103
North Carolina
Average HCA fee: $9,187
Average non-HCA fee: $5,175
View the full report here.