Iowa City Va Medical Center vs Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center
Side-by-side hospital cost and quality comparison from CMS Medicare data
Both Iowa City Va Medical Center and Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center sit in Iowa. Same-state hospital comparisons are the cleanest kind: the federal wage-index adjustment is shared, the state's scope-of-practice rules apply to both, and any patient choice between them is realistic. Average payments are close: $10,668 vs $11,438, only 7% apart. With cost close to tied, the quality measures do most of the work in the value-rubric comparison. Iowa City Va Medical Center comes out slightly ahead.
With costs this close, the choice between these two hospitals turns on the quality measure set, geographic convenience, or insurance-network status rather than payment-per-procedure differences.
Verdict
Iowa City Va Medical Center earns a higher Value Score of 88/100 (A) compared to Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center at 87/100 (A). Average Medicare payment differs by $770 ($10,668 vs $11,438). Iowa City Va Medical Center holds a 5-star CMS rating.
| Metric | Iowa City Va Medical Center | Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center |
|---|---|---|
| Value Score Composite of price, quality, and outcomes | 88/100 (A)* | 87/100 (A) |
| CMS Quality Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Avg Payment Average Medicare payment across all procedures | $10,668* | $11,438 |
| Outcome Score | 60/100 | 66/100* |
| Emergency Services | Yes | Yes |
| Hospital Type | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Acute Care Hospitals |
| Ownership | Veterans Health Administration | Voluntary non-profit - Church |
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Dubuque, IA |
| Procedures Tracked | 10 | 11 |
Iowa City Va Medical Center earns a higher Value Score of 88/100 (A) compared to Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center at 87/100 (A). Average Medicare payment differs by $770 ($10,668 vs $11,438). Iowa City Va Medical Center holds a 5-star CMS rating.
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Source: CMS Hospital Price Transparency, 2026.