Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System vs Avera St Lukes
Side-by-side hospital cost and quality comparison from CMS Medicare data
Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System is in Mississippi; 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. Average payments are close: $9,481 vs $10,445, only 9% apart. With cost close to tied, the quality measures do most of the work in the value-rubric comparison. Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System 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
Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System earns a higher Value Score of 88/100 (A) compared to Avera St Lukes at 86/100 (A). Average Medicare payment differs by $964 ($9,481 vs $10,445). Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System holds a 5-star CMS rating.
| Metric | Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System | Avera St Lukes |
|---|---|---|
| Value Score Composite of price, quality, and outcomes | 88/100 (A)* | 86/100 (A) |
| CMS Quality Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Avg Payment Average Medicare payment across all procedures | $9,481* | $10,445 |
| Outcome Score | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| Emergency Services | Yes | Yes |
| Hospital Type | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Acute Care Hospitals |
| Ownership | Veterans Health Administration | Voluntary non-profit - Church |
| Location | Biloxi, MS | Aberdeen, SD |
| Procedures Tracked | 13 | 9 |
Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System earns a higher Value Score of 88/100 (A) compared to Avera St Lukes at 86/100 (A). Average Medicare payment differs by $964 ($9,481 vs $10,445). Va Gulf Coast Healthcare System holds a 5-star CMS rating.
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Source: CMS Hospital Price Transparency, 2026.