What 7 hospitals in Louisiana charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications (DRG 455), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Louisiana billed an average of $129,966 for combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications, about 4.4 times the average total payment of $29,337. That payment is 28% 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.
About 23¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport | 156 | $121,761 | $28,246 | $25,659 |
| The Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge | 87 | $121,704 | $29,363 | $25,464 |
| AvalaCovington | 58 | $161,630 | $29,007 | $26,598 |
| Willis Knighton Medical CenterShreveport | 23 | $161,853 | $35,049 | $27,190 |
| Cypress Pointe Surgical HospitalHammond | 21 | $142,538 | $29,703 | $28,062 |
| Surgical Specialty Center of Baton RougeBaton Rouge | 12 | $75,340 | $27,493 | $25,861 |
| Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical CenterBaton Rouge | 11 | $113,619 | $35,713 | $33,663 |
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.
| Surgical Specialty Center of Baton RougeBaton Rouge, LA | $27,493 |
|---|---|
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport, LA | $28,246 |
| AvalaCovington, LA | $29,007 |
| The Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge, LA | $29,363 |
| Cypress Pointe Surgical HospitalHammond, LA | $29,703 |
| Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical CenterBaton Rouge, LA | $35,713 |
|---|---|
| Willis Knighton Medical CenterShreveport, LA | $35,049 |
| Cypress Pointe Surgical HospitalHammond, LA | $29,703 |
| The Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge, LA | $29,363 |
| AvalaCovington, LA | $29,007 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion without complications (DRG 455) at 7 hospitals in Louisiana was billed at $129,966 on average, while the average total payment was $29,337, of which Medicare paid $26,240. 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 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.