Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator
What 12 hospitals in the U.S. charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator (DRG 518), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$225,601
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$38,704
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$33,379
Average per stay
Volume
181
Medicare hospital stays
Hospitals in the U.S. billed an average of $225,601 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator, about 5.8 times the average total payment of $38,704.
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 $38,704Billed $225,601
About 17¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in the U.S. billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them:
Lowest and highest payments
Among hospitals with at least 20 Medicare hospital stays. Differences reflect local wage costs, teaching status and how sick patients were, as well as price.
Lowest
| Foundation Surgical Hospital of San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | $22,910 |
|---|---|
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica, CA | $31,224 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | $42,415 |
Highest
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | $42,415 |
|---|---|
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica, CA | $31,224 |
| Foundation Surgical Hospital of San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | $22,910 |
Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator cost by state
Volume-weighted averages for each state's hospitals. Select a state to see every hospital.
| State | Hospitals | Avg charge | Avg payment | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5 | $249,944 | $39,210 | $31,224 – $44,097 |
| Colorado | 1 | $204,037 | $35,650 | – |
| Florida | 2 | $167,251 | $41,547 | $37,785 – $44,996 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $224,896 | $49,400 | – |
| New York | 1 | $283,981 | $50,252 | – |
| Ohio | 1 | $125,674 | $33,265 | – |
| Texas | 1 | $207,178 | $22,910 | – |
Hospitals that treat the most Medicare patients for this
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | 31 | $422,324 | $42,415 |
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica, CA | 21 | $108,070 | $31,224 |
| Foundation Surgical Hospital of San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | 20 | $207,178 | $22,910 |
| New York-Presbyterian HospitalNew York, NY | 16 | $283,981 | $50,252 |
| Community Hospital of the Monterey PeninsulaMonterey, CA | 14 | $179,617 | $41,619 |
| University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora, CO | 12 | $204,037 | $35,650 |
| Adventhealth OrlandoOrlando, FL | 12 | $224,211 | $44,996 |
| Sutter General HospitalSacramento, CA | 11 | $154,200 | $44,097 |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital la JollaLa Jolla, CA | 11 | $220,245 | $37,466 |
| Mayo ClinicJacksonville, FL | 11 | $105,112 | $37,785 |
| Brigham and Women's HosptialBoston, MA | 11 | $224,896 | $49,400 |
| Cleveland Clinic - Main CampusCleveland, OH | 11 | $125,674 | $33,265 |
Questions
How much does back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator cost in the U.S.?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator (DRG 518) at 12 hospitals in the U.S. was billed at $225,601 on average, while the average total payment was $38,704, of which Medicare paid $33,379. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Which states pay the most and least for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with major complications or disc device or neurostimulator?
Among states with at least three hospitals reporting, the average total payment was highest in California ($39,210) and lowest in California ($39,210).
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 the U.S., average charges were 5.8 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.