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Questions? Call The Charge Master File (CMF) is a hospital’s regularly updated database containing the listing of standard charges assigned to procedures, tests, services, drugs and supplies associated with the delivery of medical care at the hospital. The file reflects charges for items/services provided by UPMC Western Maryland as of January 1, 2021. The charges are regulated by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), a state regulatory agency. The HSCRC sets average hospital rates every year, and normally twice per year effective January 1 and July 1 of each year through a Rate Order for the hospital. These rates will be updated on our website each time UPMC Western Maryland receives a new rate order from the HSCRC. Hospital charges do not include charges for physician services, commonly referred to as professional fees, which are separate from the hospital bill.
While the state sets the rates twice a year, the hospital charges are allowed to fluctuate during the course of the year by up to +/- 10% to come into compliance of the Rate Order charge. Detailed charges for certain items may be different than the approved rate that covers a larger group of services. This means charges on individual hospital bills may be slightly different than the charges posted here. This is both allowable and normal as the hospital adjust charges frequently to comply with other regulations.
All payers, patients and insurers, pay Maryland hospitals on the basis of the rates established by the HSCRC. This means there are no payer negotiated rates for hospital services, only select discounts made available under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). Under COMAR 10.37.10.26 (http://mdrules.elaws.us/comar/10.37.10.26); a patient shall receive a 2-percent discount by paying upon discharge or a 1-percent discount by paying within 30 days of discharge while commercial payers are entitled to a 2-percent (calculated on discharges) or 2.25-percent (calculated on admissions) discount for making working capital deposits with the hospital.
Patients seeking an estimate of their out of pocket amount that you will be expected to pay for receiving health care services should contact the hospital business office at 240-964-8435. If you need help paying your health care costs, please see the Financial Assistance section under the Patients and Visitors tab on the website for more information on financial assistance, screening for medical assistance, and payment plans. Please note, a patient’s financial obligation is determined by many factors, including insurance coverage and benefit plan limits.
