University Of Colorado Hospital Authority vs Avera St Lukes

University Of Colorado Hospital Authority is in Colorado; Avera St Lukes is in South Dakota. Cross-state comparisons need to account for the Medicare wage-index adjustment, which can move payments by 30% between high-cost-of-living states and low-cost-of-living ones, before any hospital-specific factors enter. The cost gap is moderate: $8,598 vs $10,445, about 18% apart. Enough to matter for high-volume procedures but not so wide that it dominates the choice. University Of Colorado Hospital Authority edges ahead on the value rubric.

The cost difference is enough to factor into elective scheduling for any procedure that both hospitals offer. For emergency or specialized care, the choice is often dictated by other factors.