What 5 hospitals in Maryland 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.
Hospitals in Maryland billed an average of $33,994 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications, about 1.1 times the average total payment of $30,530. That payment is 49% 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.
About 90¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Maryland billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Maryland:
Every Maryland hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Johns Hopkins HospitalBaltimore | 39 | $33,005 | $29,473 | $24,554 |
| University of Maryland Medical CenterBaltimore | 22 | $52,119 | $48,113 | $45,621 |
| Suburban HospitalBethesda | 15 | $29,095 | $25,605 | $24,191 |
| Mercy Medical Center INCBaltimore | 13 | $23,219 | $19,957 | $18,701 |
| University of MD St Joseph Medical CenterTowson | 12 | $21,773 | $19,344 | $18,256 |
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.
| University of MD St Joseph Medical CenterTowson, MD | $19,344 |
|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center INCBaltimore, MD | $19,957 |
| Suburban HospitalBethesda, MD | $25,605 |
| The Johns Hopkins HospitalBaltimore, MD | $29,473 |
| University of Maryland Medical CenterBaltimore, MD | $48,113 |
| University of Maryland Medical CenterBaltimore, MD | $48,113 |
|---|---|
| The Johns Hopkins HospitalBaltimore, MD | $29,473 |
| Suburban HospitalBethesda, MD | $25,605 |
| Mercy Medical Center INCBaltimore, MD | $19,957 |
| University of MD St Joseph Medical CenterTowson, MD | $19,344 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications (DRG 519) at 5 hospitals in Maryland was billed at $33,994 on average, while the average total payment was $30,530, of which Medicare paid $27,587. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
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 Maryland, average charges were 1.1 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.