Combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications in Iowa
What 2 hospitals in Iowa charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications (DRG 455), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$148,282
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$31,790
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$28,095
Average per stay
Volume
27
Medicare hospital stays
Hospitals in Iowa billed an average of $148,282 for combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications, about 4.7 times the average total payment of $31,790. That payment is 22% below the U.S. average of $40,610.
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 $31,790Billed $148,282
About 21¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Iowa billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Iowa:
Iowa hospitals: combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications
Every Iowa hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy HospitalIowa City | 14 | $113,371 | $30,103 | $28,463 |
| Iowa Methodist Medical CenterDes Moines | 13 | $185,878 | $33,607 | $27,699 |
Combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications in other states
Questions
How much does combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications cost in Iowa?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications (DRG 455) at 2 hospitals in Iowa was billed at $148,282 on average, while the average total payment was $31,790, of which Medicare paid $28,095. 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 Iowa, average charges were 4.7 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.