Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications in Massachusetts
What 10 hospitals in Massachusetts 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
$64,484
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$21,267
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$17,961
Average per stay
State rank
#20 of 26
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Massachusetts billed an average of $64,484 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications, about 3.0 times the average total payment of $21,267. That payment is 4% 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 $21,267Billed $64,484
About 33¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Massachusetts billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Massachusetts:
Massachusetts hospitals: back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications
Every Massachusetts hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts General HospitalBoston | 65 | $94,343 | $24,361 | $19,683 |
| New England Baptist HospitalBoston | 35 | $44,999 | $16,638 | $14,856 |
| Brigham and Women's HosptialBoston | 33 | $107,722 | $24,981 | $19,928 |
| Lahey Clinic HospitalBurlington | 25 | $30,318 | $19,720 | $17,170 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston | 14 | $43,945 | $26,776 | $23,404 |
| Newton-Wellesley HospitalNewton Lower Falls | 14 | $48,371 | $17,989 | $14,743 |
| Beverly Hospital CorporationBeverly | 13 | $27,635 | $15,612 | $13,699 |
| Cape Cod HospitalHyannis | 12 | $41,076 | $20,298 | $18,785 |
| Baystate Medical CenterSpringfield | 12 | $38,005 | $20,960 | $18,506 |
| South Shore HospitalSouth Weymouth | 12 | $44,418 | $15,809 | $14,585 |
Lowest and highest payments in Massachusetts
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
| Beverly Hospital CorporationBeverly, MA | $15,612 |
|---|---|
| South Shore HospitalSouth Weymouth, MA | $15,809 |
| New England Baptist HospitalBoston, MA | $16,638 |
| Newton-Wellesley HospitalNewton Lower Falls, MA | $17,989 |
| Lahey Clinic HospitalBurlington, MA | $19,720 |
Highest
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, MA | $26,776 |
|---|---|
| Brigham and Women's HosptialBoston, MA | $24,981 |
| Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA | $24,361 |
| Baystate Medical CenterSpringfield, MA | $20,960 |
| Cape Cod HospitalHyannis, MA | $20,298 |
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 Massachusetts?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with complications (DRG 519) at 10 hospitals in Massachusetts was billed at $64,484 on average, while the average total payment was $21,267, of which Medicare paid $17,961. 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 Massachusetts, average charges were 3.0 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.