What 7 hospitals in Louisiana charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for cervical spinal fusion without complications (DRG 473), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Louisiana billed an average of $88,991 for cervical spinal fusion without complications, about 5.6 times the average total payment of $15,768. That payment is 24% below the U.S. average of $20,737.
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 18¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Louisiana billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Louisiana:
Every Louisiana 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 Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge | 91 | $86,276 | $15,562 | $12,522 |
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport | 62 | $76,291 | $15,270 | $12,299 |
| AvalaCovington | 43 | $107,717 | $15,146 | $13,242 |
| Willis Knighton Medical CenterShreveport | 21 | $94,829 | $20,901 | $13,663 |
| Park Place Surgical HospitalLafayette | 17 | $72,095 | $14,730 | $13,194 |
| Cypress Pointe Surgical HospitalHammond | 14 | $74,164 | $15,207 | $11,599 |
| Southern Surgical HospitalSlidell | 12 | $139,121 | $15,274 | $13,604 |
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.
| Park Place Surgical HospitalLafayette, LA | $14,730 |
|---|---|
| AvalaCovington, LA | $15,146 |
| Cypress Pointe Surgical HospitalHammond, LA | $15,207 |
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport, LA | $15,270 |
| Southern Surgical HospitalSlidell, LA | $15,274 |
| Willis Knighton Medical CenterShreveport, LA | $20,901 |
|---|---|
| The Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge, LA | $15,562 |
| Southern Surgical HospitalSlidell, LA | $15,274 |
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport, LA | $15,270 |
| Cypress Pointe Surgical HospitalHammond, LA | $15,207 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for cervical spinal fusion without complications (DRG 473) at 7 hospitals in Louisiana was billed at $88,991 on average, while the average total payment was $15,768, of which Medicare paid $12,724. 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 Louisiana, average charges were 5.6 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.