Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion without complications in California
What 9 hospitals in California charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion without complications (DRG 520), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$136,231
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$16,326
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$13,543
Average per stay
State rank
#5 of 7
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in California billed an average of $136,231 for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion without complications, about 8.3 times the average total payment of $16,326. That payment is 10% above the U.S. average of $14,856.
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 $16,326Billed $136,231
About 12¢ 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 without 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 | 32 | $211,265 | $17,826 | $15,385 |
| Santa Barbara Cottage HospitalSanta Barbara | 29 | $66,220 | $16,284 | $12,871 |
| Scripps Green HospitalLa Jolla | 20 | $170,802 | $18,792 | $12,773 |
| John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek CampusWalnut Creek | 19 | $203,345 | $15,798 | $14,503 |
| Docs Surgical HospitalLos Angeles | 18 | $86,010 | $13,223 | $11,591 |
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica | 15 | $59,712 | $13,739 | $11,986 |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital la JollaLa Jolla | 12 | $131,603 | $13,822 | $12,326 |
| Stanford HospitalPalo Alto | 11 | $186,522 | $22,963 | $18,316 |
| Hoag Orthopedic InstituteIrvine | 11 | $65,024 | $13,201 | $11,569 |
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
| Hoag Orthopedic InstituteIrvine, CA | $13,201 |
|---|---|
| Docs Surgical HospitalLos Angeles, CA | $13,223 |
| Saint John's Health CenterSanta Monica, CA | $13,739 |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital la JollaLa Jolla, CA | $13,822 |
| John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek CampusWalnut Creek, CA | $15,798 |
Highest
| Stanford HospitalPalo Alto, CA | $22,963 |
|---|---|
| Scripps Green HospitalLa Jolla, CA | $18,792 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | $17,826 |
| Santa Barbara Cottage HospitalSanta Barbara, CA | $16,284 |
| John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek CampusWalnut Creek, CA | $15,798 |
Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion without complications in other states
Questions
How much does back and neck procedures except spinal fusion without complications cost in California?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for back and neck procedures except spinal fusion without complications (DRG 520) at 9 hospitals in California was billed at $136,231 on average, while the average total payment was $16,326, of which Medicare paid $13,543. 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 8.3 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.