The charge description master (CDM) for Sharp HealthCare is made available for your inspection based on Chapter 2 of Division 2, commencing with Section 1339.50 of the California Health and Safety Code and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Fiscal Year 2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule, 83 Federal Reg. 41144 (Aug. 17, 2018).

This document should not be used to accurately estimate or determine the final patient cost of a given hospital stay at Sharp HealthCare. It is provided for information only.

The charges contained in Sharp HealthCare's CDM are the same for all patients, regardless of insurance company or coverage. However, the charges contained in the CDM may not reflect Sharp HealthCare's actual reimbursement from all patients or insurance companies. Sharp HealthCare's actual reimbursement is influenced by a variety of internal and external factors, including negotiated health plan rates, fixed government rates, individually negotiated package pricing, fixed fund distributions for indigent care populations, prompt payment discounts and the ability of unfunded patients ability to pay. Other factors affecting actual reimbursement could include whether a procedure was performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis, physician orders, comorbidities and complications, medical necessity and specialty services and procedures.

Charges referenced in this CDM were valid on Oct. 1, 2018. These charges may have changed since this date due to new technology, added or eliminated services, goods and/or procedures, changes made by manufacturers or vendors, etc.

If you are comparing Sharp HealthCare's CDM to the CDMs of other hospitals, it is important to note that descriptions and charges contained in the CDMs may vary from hospital to hospital in San Diego County. Among the reasons for this variance, are that different hospitals may include different goods, supplies or procedures under a similarly named description.

Items or services that are special ordered by a physician are typically not included in room or procedure charges. Most treatments or services provided by ancillary department staff, such as respiratory therapy, laboratory, rehabilitation, pharmacy, etc., are separate distinct services that we are required to bill separately.

Sharp HealthCare does not employ the physicians that may provide service or care during hospitalizations. These include (but are not limited to) emergency room physicians, radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, surgeons and psychiatrists. Charges for any physician services are not included in the CDM. Physicians that provide service during a hospital stay bill separately from the hospital for their services.

Instructions for using the CDM.

To view Sharp HealthCare's CDM, simply select the department or service line you are interested in seeing from the list to the left. Once selected, you will see the actual department (with summaries) from the hospital CDM. Each line will include Sharp HealthCare's charge code number, the clinical chargemaster description and our charge. The charge code number is Sharp HealthCare's internal identifier. Should you have any questions, please reference this number; it will help us quickly identify the charge referenced in your inquiry and allow for a prompt and accurate response.