Best Hospitals in Denver (2026)
Denver's hospital market is sprawling and fragmented — spread across the metro from Aurora to Lakewood, Englewood to Thornton. The city punches above its weight in specialized care: National Jewish...
Denver's hospital market is sprawling and fragmented — spread across the metro from Aurora to Lakewood, Englewood to Thornton. The city punches above its weight in specialized care: National Jewish Health is America's #1 respiratory hospital, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital is a nationally ranked academic center, and Children's Hospital Colorado is a top pediatric facility.
This guide ranks Denver-area hospitals by CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency — helping you navigate a metro where the best hospitals are often outside the city of Denver itself.
Top 5 Hospitals in Denver
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Discharges |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA HealthONE Spalding Rehabilitation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| HCA HealthONE Centennial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.23 | 3,562 |
| National Jewish Health | N/A | 0.56 | 60 |
| HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge (Parker) | N/A | 0.16 | 8,451 |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
HCA HealthONE Spalding Rehabilitation earns 5 stars in Aurora — though as a rehab facility, it's specialized rather than general acute care. The 4-star tier includes HCA HealthONE Centennial (Englewood) and Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Wheat Ridge). HCA HealthONE Northeast ER (Thornton) earns 2 stars. UCHealth and Denver Health facilities are tracked separately and may appear under different listings.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge has the lowest ratio at 0.16 (6.3x costs). Intermountain Health Lutheran sits at 0.23 (4.3x costs). National Jewish Health has a unique 0.56 ratio — among the lowest markups in the country — reflecting its specialized, research-oriented model with just 60 inpatient discharges.
Denver's markups are moderate by Western US standards, with the nonprofit systems generally pricing more reasonably than HCA's for-profit facilities.
Price Transparency
Centura Health-Porter Adventist Hospital leads with 89 priced procedures. Kindred Hospital Denver and Kindred Hospital Aurora each publish 77. Overall transparency in the Denver metro has room for improvement.
Best Value Hospitals in Denver
- Best specialized: National Jewish Health — America's #1 respiratory hospital with 0.56 ratio (lowest markups in the metro)
- Best 4-star: Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital — 4-star with 0.23 ratio in Wheat Ridge
- Lowest markups (general): HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge — 0.16 ratio with 8,451 discharges
- Best academic: UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital — the Anschutz campus is the region's premier academic and Level I trauma center
- Best transparency: Centura Health-Porter Adventist at 89 priced procedures
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Denver
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $15–$220 depending on facility
- CT scans: $300–$3,500 in the Denver metro
- MRI: $400–$4,200+ — freestanding imaging centers offer significant savings
- ER visits: Facility fees from $500 at smaller facilities to $2,200+ at major hospitals
Compare real prices using Taven's price comparison tool.
Denver Hospital System Overview
- UCHealth — Colorado's largest health system. University of Colorado Hospital (Anschutz campus in Aurora) is the state's only academic medical center, Level I trauma center, and nationally ranked in multiple specialties. Check CMS data separately by facility name.
- HCA HealthONE — For-profit operator with the most facilities in the Denver metro: Spalding Rehab (5-star), Centennial (4-star), Sky Ridge (0.16 ratio), Rose Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, Mountain Ridge, and multiple ERs. Largest commercial market share.
- Intermountain Health (formerly SCL Health) — Merged with Utah-based Intermountain in 2022. Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge (4-star, 0.23 ratio) and other facilities. Nonprofit with strong community focus.
- Centura Health — Joint venture between CommonSpirit Health and AdventHealth. Operates Porter Adventist, Penrose, and other facilities. Nonprofit with 89 priced procedures at Porter.
- Denver Health — Denver's public safety-net hospital system. Level I trauma center serving the city's uninsured and Medicaid population. Essential community resource.
- National Jewish Health — The nation's leading respiratory hospital, based in Denver since 1899. Highly specialized with just 60 annual inpatient discharges but world-class expertise in lung disease, allergies, and immunology.
- Children's Hospital Colorado — One of America's top-10 pediatric hospitals (Anschutz campus). Nationally ranked in multiple pediatric specialties.
Denver's Specialty Strength
Denver may not top CMS star rankings for general hospitals, but its specialized institutions are world-class. National Jewish Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, and UCHealth's Anschutz campus give the metro healthcare capabilities that rival cities twice its size. The challenge: general hospital quality and transparency have more room to grow.
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Denver
- Know the geography. Denver's best hospitals are spread across the metro — UCHealth is in Aurora, Intermountain Lutheran in Wheat Ridge, HCA Sky Ridge in Parker.
- UCHealth Anschutz for complex care. The state's premier academic center for cancer, transplants, and trauma.
- National Jewish for respiratory issues. If you have lung disease, asthma, or immune disorders, it's the best in the nation.
- Compare across systems. UCHealth, HCA, Intermountain, and Centura compete fiercely. Use Taven's comparison tool.
- Colorado's surprise billing law provides protections for out-of-network ER care. Know your patient rights.
- Ask about charity care — especially at nonprofit systems like UCHealth and Intermountain.
- Get a Good Faith Estimate before any planned procedure.
- Review your bill. Use our free bill review tool to catch errors and overcharges.
How We Rank Hospitals
Our rankings use CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, cost-to-charge ratios from CMS cost reports, and price transparency compliance data. We don't accept advertising from hospitals. Learn more about our methodology.