Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications in California
What 18 hospitals in California 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
$184,076
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$25,646
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$21,330
Average per stay
State rank
#25 of 26
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in California billed an average of $184,076 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications, about 7.2 times the average total payment of $25,646. That payment is 25% above 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 $25,646Billed $184,076
About 14¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in California billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in California:
California hospitals: back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications
Every California hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles | 73 | $282,573 | $28,572 | $20,174 |
| Stanford HospitalPalo Alto | 41 | $255,191 | $31,626 | $27,923 |
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco | 40 | $183,107 | $33,983 | $29,021 |
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica | 34 | $74,641 | $18,058 | $16,542 |
| John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek CampusWalnut Creek | 30 | $215,922 | $22,511 | $19,619 |
| Santa Barbara Cottage HospitalSanta Barbara | 25 | $80,496 | $20,700 | $19,240 |
| USC University HospitalLos Angeles | 20 | $143,382 | $28,592 | $22,126 |
| University of California San Diego Medical CenterSan Diego | 17 | $142,610 | $28,589 | $23,402 |
| Sutter Roseville Medical CenterRoseville | 15 | $101,475 | $22,911 | $17,979 |
| Marinhealth Medical CenterGreenbrae | 14 | $258,252 | $22,313 | $21,147 |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasEncinitas | 14 | $180,363 | $19,116 | $17,698 |
| Santa Monica - UCLA Med Ctr & Orthopaedic HospitalSanta Monica | 13 | $99,821 | $23,538 | $19,407 |
| Community Memorial Hospital - VenturaVentura | 12 | $100,182 | $21,827 | $19,788 |
| Scripps Green HospitalLa Jolla | 12 | $182,943 | $23,393 | $20,197 |
| Marina del Rey HospitalMarina del Rey | 12 | $129,567 | $18,913 | $17,417 |
| Community Regional Medical CenterFresno | 11 | $161,318 | $20,408 | $18,652 |
| Community Hospital of the Monterey PeninsulaMonterey | 11 | $140,223 | $26,641 | $19,242 |
| Stanford Health Care Tri-ValleyPleasanton | 11 | $235,134 | $23,951 | $19,663 |
Lowest and highest payments in California
Among hospitals with at least 11 Medicare hospital stays. Differences reflect local wage costs, teaching status and how sick patients were, as well as price.
Lowest
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica, CA | $18,058 |
|---|---|
| Marina del Rey HospitalMarina del Rey, CA | $18,913 |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasEncinitas, CA | $19,116 |
| Community Regional Medical CenterFresno, CA | $20,408 |
| Santa Barbara Cottage HospitalSanta Barbara, CA | $20,700 |
Highest
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | $33,983 |
|---|---|
| Stanford HospitalPalo Alto, CA | $31,626 |
| USC University HospitalLos Angeles, CA | $28,592 |
| University of California San Diego Medical CenterSan Diego, CA | $28,589 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | $28,572 |
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 California?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications (DRG 519) at 18 hospitals in California was billed at $184,076 on average, while the average total payment was $25,646, of which Medicare paid $21,330. 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 California, average charges were 7.2 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.