Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications in Colorado
What 3 hospitals in Colorado 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
$167,416
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$18,502
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$15,148
Average per stay
State rank
#11 of 26
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Colorado billed an average of $167,416 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications, about 9.0 times the average total payment of $18,502. That payment is 10% 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 $18,502Billed $167,416
About 11¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Colorado billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Colorado:
Colorado hospitals: back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications
Every Colorado 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 Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora | 22 | $137,935 | $20,892 | $17,571 |
| Centura Health-St Anthony Central HospitalDenver | 17 | $103,448 | $15,256 | $13,661 |
| Swedish Medical CenterEnglewood | 14 | $291,416 | $18,686 | $13,145 |
Lowest and highest payments in Colorado
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
| Centura Health-St Anthony Central HospitalDenver, CO | $15,256 |
|---|---|
| Swedish Medical CenterEnglewood, CO | $18,686 |
| University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora, CO | $20,892 |
Highest
| University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora, CO | $20,892 |
|---|---|
| Swedish Medical CenterEnglewood, CO | $18,686 |
| Centura Health-St Anthony Central HospitalDenver, CO | $15,256 |
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 Colorado?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications (DRG 519) at 3 hospitals in Colorado was billed at $167,416 on average, while the average total payment was $18,502, of which Medicare paid $15,148. 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 Colorado, average charges were 9.0 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.