Florida leads the nation in hospital revenue per capita while Maryland lags far behind, highlighting deep disparities in the U.S. healthcare system
A new nationwide analysis conducted by Bader Scott Injury Lawyers has uncovered a staggering gap in hospital revenue per capita across the United States. Using Medicare cost report data from non-federal, short-term, acute care hospitals, the study found that Florida tops the list with hospital revenue per person exceeding $22,776—more than six times that of Maryland, which ranks dead last at just $3,506.89.
The findings offer a sobering look into the financial side of American healthcare, revealing not just economic variations, but deeper questions about access, cost structures, and utilization of services from state to state.
Florida’s sky-high hospital revenue sets national record
Florida's 222 non-federal acute care hospitals collectively generated a jaw-dropping $532.3 billion in patient revenue, translating to $22,776.55 per capita—the highest in the country. That figure dwarfs every other state, and despite having fewer hospitals than California, Florida’s per capita revenue places it firmly at the top.
This high revenue doesn’t necessarily reflect better outcomes or more access. According to healthcare experts, it may indicate higher service utilization, more complex billing practices, or rising costs of care in the Sunshine State. Florida is followed closely by Pennsylvania ($21,955.01) and Nevada ($21,907.89), despite Nevada having only 32 hospitals serving its entire population.
Other high-ranking states like New York, Kentucky, and New Jersey also saw revenue exceeding $18,000 per person. Even California—home to the largest number of hospitals (331) and the highest total revenue ($711.4 billion)—ranked seventh with $18,042.29 per capita.
The other side: Why are Maryland's numbers so low?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Maryland reported the lowest hospital revenue per person—just $3,506.89. Despite having 49 hospitals serving more than 6.3 million people, total hospital revenue amounted to only $22 billion. That’s nearly $19,270 less per capita than Florida, a massive gulf that exposes inconsistencies in healthcare funding and economics across the U.S.
Wyoming, Montana, Hawaii, Utah, and Oregon round out the bottom six, with revenues ranging from $7,000 to $9,600 per capita. Experts suggest these lower numbers could reflect cost-efficient systems, more state-level regulation, or less frequent hospital usage. Maryland, for example, operates under a unique all-payer model that regulates hospital rates more strictly than in other states.
Seth Bader of Bader Scott noted, “These substantial variations in hospital revenue per capita raise important questions about healthcare pricing, utilization, and access across different states.”
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