Medical back problems with major complications in Alabama
What 5 hospitals in Alabama charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for medical back problems with major complications (DRG 551), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$78,304
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$16,185
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$11,742
Average per stay
State rank
#21 of 33
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Alabama billed an average of $78,304 for medical back problems with major complications, about 4.8 times the average total payment of $16,185. That payment is about the same as the U.S. average of $16,215.
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 $16,185Billed $78,304
About 21¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Alabama billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Alabama:
Alabama hospitals: medical back problems with major complications
Every Alabama hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville | 27 | $42,011 | $11,656 | $10,505 |
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham | 18 | $107,461 | $22,002 | $13,512 |
| Grandview Medical CenterBirmingham | 17 | $136,453 | $12,075 | $8,610 |
| USA Health University HospitalMobile | 13 | $42,074 | $23,095 | $13,379 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile | 11 | $72,626 | $15,967 | $14,783 |
Lowest and highest payments in Alabama
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
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville, AL | $11,656 |
|---|---|
| Grandview Medical CenterBirmingham, AL | $12,075 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile, AL | $15,967 |
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham, AL | $22,002 |
| USA Health University HospitalMobile, AL | $23,095 |
Highest
| USA Health University HospitalMobile, AL | $23,095 |
|---|---|
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham, AL | $22,002 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile, AL | $15,967 |
| Grandview Medical CenterBirmingham, AL | $12,075 |
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville, AL | $11,656 |
Medical back problems with major complications in other states
Questions
How much does medical back problems with major complications cost in Alabama?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for medical back problems with major complications (DRG 551) at 5 hospitals in Alabama was billed at $78,304 on average, while the average total payment was $16,185, of which Medicare paid $11,742. 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 Alabama, average charges were 4.8 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.