Best Hospitals in Indianapolis (2026)
Indianapolis is a major healthcare hub — home to five competing hospital systems and Indiana's premier academic medical center. Franciscan Health Mooresville earns the metro's only 5-star CMS ratin...
Indianapolis is a major healthcare hub — home to five competing hospital systems and Indiana's premier academic medical center. Franciscan Health Mooresville earns the metro's only 5-star CMS rating, while Community Hospital North leads within city limits at 4 stars. The market is nonprofit-driven with moderate markups.
This guide ranks Indianapolis-area hospitals by CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency — helping you choose among the city's many competing systems.
Top 5 Hospitals in Indianapolis
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Discharges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franciscan Health Mooresville | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.16 | 2,307 |
| Community Hospital North | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| Eskenazi Health | ⭐⭐⭐ | 0.26 | 15,140 |
| Franciscan Health Indianapolis | ⭐⭐⭐ | 0.18 | 19,924 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Hospital Indianapolis | ⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
Franciscan Health Mooresville is the only 5-star hospital in the Indianapolis metro, though it's a smaller community facility with 2,307 discharges. Community Hospital North leads within the city at 4 stars. The 3-star tier is crowded: Eskenazi Health, Franciscan Health Indianapolis, Ascension St. Vincent (multiple campuses), Community Hospital East, and Riverview Health all earn 3 stars.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Indianapolis shows moderate markups. Franciscan Health Mooresville leads with a 0.16 ratio (6x costs). Ascension St. Vincent Carmel also sits at 0.16. Franciscan Health Indianapolis is at 0.18. Eskenazi Health (the public safety-net hospital) has a higher ratio of 0.26, reflecting its government-funded model and mission to serve all patients.
Price Transparency
Community Hospital North leads with 84 priced procedures. Community Hospital East publishes 80. Kindred Hospital facilities publish 74–76. Indianapolis has decent transparency compliance, particularly from the Community Health Network system.
Best Value Hospitals in Indianapolis
- Best overall: Franciscan Health Mooresville — 5-star with 0.16 ratio (lowest markups and highest quality)
- Best in city: Community Hospital North — 4-star with 84 priced procedures
- Lowest markups (large facility): Franciscan Health Indianapolis — 0.18 ratio with 19,924 discharges
- Best safety net: Eskenazi Health — 3-star public hospital, 15,140 discharges, essential for underserved communities
- Best transparency: Community Hospital North at 84 published procedures
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Indianapolis
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $10–$160 depending on facility
- CT scans: $200–$2,800 in the Indianapolis metro
- MRI: $300–$3,200+ — freestanding imaging centers offer significant savings
- ER visits: Facility fees from $400 at smaller facilities to $1,600+ at major hospitals
Compare real prices using Taven's price comparison tool.
Indianapolis Hospital System Overview
- IU Health — Indiana's largest health system. IU Health Methodist is the state's premier academic medical center and Level I trauma center, partnered with Indiana University School of Medicine. Check CMS ratings separately.
- Ascension St. Vincent — Catholic nonprofit with the most campuses in Indianapolis: Indianapolis (3-star), Castleton, South, Plainfield, Avon, Women's Hospital, and Carmel. Extensive geographic coverage across the metro.
- Community Health Network — Nonprofit operating Community Hospital North (4-star), Community Hospital East (3-star), and rehabilitation hospitals. Strong transparency with 80+ priced procedures.
- Franciscan Health — Part of Franciscan Alliance (Catholic nonprofit). Indianapolis campus (3-star, 19,924 discharges) and Mooresville (5-star, 2,307 discharges). Best cost-to-charge ratios in the market.
- Eskenazi Health — Marion County's public hospital (3-star, 15,140 discharges). Safety net serving uninsured and Medicaid patients. Level I trauma center partnership with IU Health.
- Riverview Health — Independent community system in Hamilton County. Noblesville and Westfield hospitals (3-star). 0.26 ratio at Westfield campus.
Indianapolis's Competitive Advantage
With five major systems competing for patients, Indianapolis has more hospital choice than most similarly sized metros. The all-nonprofit market structure helps keep markups moderate. The presence of IU School of Medicine drives research and clinical quality. Eskenazi Health's role as a public hospital ensures access for all, regardless of ability to pay.
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Indianapolis
- Franciscan Mooresville for top quality. The metro's only 5-star with the lowest markups (0.16 ratio) — worth the drive for planned procedures.
- Community Hospital North for city residents. 4-star quality with the best transparency (84 priced procedures).
- IU Health for complex care. Academic medicine, Level I trauma, and research capabilities that community hospitals can't match.
- Compare prices across systems. Five competing systems means real pricing differences. Use Taven's comparison tool.
- Indiana's surprise billing law provides some protections. Know your patient rights.
- Ask about charity care — all major Indianapolis systems are nonprofit and offer financial assistance.
- 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.