Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications in Alabama
What 2 hospitals in Alabama charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications (DRG 519), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$93,766
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$19,207
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$11,931
Average per stay
Volume
40
Medicare hospital stays
Hospitals in Alabama billed an average of $93,766 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications, about 4.9 times the average total payment of $19,207. That payment is 7% below the U.S. average of $20,542.
These are averages for patients with original (fee-for-service) Medicare. Private insurance pays different, negotiated prices, and what you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Use these figures to compare hospitals, not as a quote.
Paid $19,207Billed $93,766
About 20¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Alabama billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Alabama:
Alabama hospitals: back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications
Every Alabama hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham | 26 | $104,207 | $21,654 | $12,367 |
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville | 14 | $74,375 | $14,663 | $11,120 |
Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications in other states
Questions
How much does back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications cost in Alabama?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications (DRG 519) at 2 hospitals in Alabama was billed at $93,766 on average, while the average total payment was $19,207, of which Medicare paid $11,931. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Why are hospital charges so much higher than payments?
Charges are a hospital's list prices. Medicare pays fixed rates set in advance, and private insurers negotiate their own discounts, so almost nobody pays the full charge. For this stay in Alabama, average charges were 4.9 times the average payment. Uninsured patients can ask the hospital about its financial assistance (charity care) policy and cash prices.
Source: CMS, Medicare Inpatient Hospitals by Provider and Service, 2024. Average total payment includes Medicare's payment, the patient's deductible and coinsurance, and any other payer. CMS omits hospitals with fewer than 11 hospital stays for privacy. About the data.