Cervical spinal fusion with major complications
What 32 hospitals in the U.S. charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for cervical spinal fusion with major complications (DRG 471), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$255,109
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$58,094
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$46,912
Average per stay
Volume
439
Medicare hospital stays
Hospitals in the U.S. billed an average of $255,109 for cervical spinal fusion with major complications, about 4.4 times the average total payment of $58,094.
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 $58,094Billed $255,109
About 23¢ 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:
Cervical spinal fusion with major complications 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | $156,784 | $51,728 | – |
| California | 2 | $326,045 | $72,457 | $52,231 – $82,974 |
| Delaware | 1 | $156,067 | $48,663 | – |
| Florida | 2 | $330,923 | $39,518 | $36,074 – $45,080 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $217,012 | $53,345 | – |
| Illinois | 3 | $189,382 | $53,937 | $40,231 – $61,385 |
| Kansas | 1 | $342,115 | $42,390 | – |
| Maryland | 2 | $97,066 | $96,281 | $80,187 – $113,839 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $159,580 | $60,280 | $41,086 – $75,644 |
| Michigan | 1 | $93,867 | $41,177 | – |
| New York | 3 | $425,197 | $71,879 | $60,776 – $83,676 |
| Ohio | 2 | $204,627 | $43,973 | $43,189 – $44,600 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $123,726 | $34,414 | – |
| South Carolina | 1 | $255,854 | $52,359 | – |
| Texas | 3 | $428,386 | $50,765 | $47,290 – $54,615 |
| Virginia | 1 | $150,634 | $49,981 | – |
| Washington | 1 | $232,029 | $72,294 | – |
Hospitals that treat the most Medicare patients for this
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | 25 | $391,998 | $82,974 |
| Adventhealth OrlandoOrlando, FL | 21 | $317,693 | $36,074 |
| Christiana Care Health Services, INC.Newark, DE | 17 | $156,067 | $48,663 |
| Medstar Georgetown University HospitalWashington, DC | 17 | $266,914 | $83,009 |
| NYU Hospitals CenterNew York, NY | 17 | $507,222 | $83,676 |
| Rush University Medical CenterChicago, IL | 15 | $129,826 | $59,857 |
| Brigham and Women's HosptialBoston, MA | 15 | $205,417 | $61,643 |
| Grant Medical CenterColumbus, OH | 15 | $223,012 | $44,600 |
| Medical Center of PlanoPlano, TX | 15 | $563,161 | $54,615 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, MA | 14 | $131,102 | $75,644 |
| Centinela Hospital Medical CenterInglewood, CA | 13 | $199,213 | $52,231 |
| Medstar Washington Hospital CenterWashington, DC | 13 | $292,909 | $52,644 |
| Tampa General HospitalTampa, FL | 13 | $352,296 | $45,080 |
| The Queens Medical CenterHonolulu, HI | 13 | $217,012 | $53,345 |
| Saint Francis Medical CenterPeoria, IL | 13 | $234,263 | $40,231 |
Questions
How much does cervical spinal fusion with major complications cost in the U.S.?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for cervical spinal fusion with major complications (DRG 471) at 32 hospitals in the U.S. was billed at $255,109 on average, while the average total payment was $58,094, of which Medicare paid $46,912. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Which states pay the most and least for cervical spinal fusion with major complications?
Among states with at least three hospitals reporting, the average total payment was highest in New York ($71,879), Massachusetts ($60,280), Illinois ($53,937) and lowest in Texas ($50,765), Illinois ($53,937), Massachusetts ($60,280).
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 4.4 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.